LESSONS From My Kids
Have you ever thought about the reasons our paths cross with certain people?
I did earlier today.
We had a rough morning with my youngest. After dropping her off at daycare, I found myself laughing at the day’s craziness…and it was only 7:45.
Driving the rest of my journey to work, I began thinking about both of my children.
My oldest, who is 4, was born with the kindest, most sensitive heart. I marvel at the way she looks at the world. She approaches everything so optimistically. Her imagination is unmatched. She creates the most beautiful stories when she is playing and commits fully to her character. She is my “please”, “thank you”, “I love you Mommy” kid.
My almost two year old is another story. She is a follower of her older sister, believing she is much older than she actually is. Playing the part, there is nothing older kids can do that she can’t and there is pretty much NOTHING she won’t do. Telling her “no” brings out a beast within her that shows itself through loud, angry yelling typically resulting in a short trip to timeout. She can flip that switch instantaneously though, becoming the most comical kid I’ve ever met. She is tough, spunky, and fearless.
I truly believe each of my children were put on this earth to teach me all the things I needed more of.
My mind spiraled and I tried to pinpoint in a single word the life lesson they brought to this earth for me.
Patience & Kindness, came to mind.
Kindness: Through the way my oldest looks for opportunities to help her sister, or share things with her friends, or pick flowers for me when she finds them. She rarely puts herself first. The compassion she shows towards others is admirable. Her words and actions speak volumes about the size of her heart, which I still maintain is much too large for her little body. Kindness is CONTAGIOUS. Kind people make you want to be kind too.
Patience: For the way my littlest challenges me and grounds me all at once. I find myself repeating “deep breaths” when she is in the middle of one of her tantrums, but laughing uncontrollably at her silliness minutes later. She reminds me that good things follow the difficult things.
How amazing is it that such small humans can teach me, a grown adult with big, real life experiences, so much?! They are a blessing for sure and I wouldn’t change a single thing about our crazy, silly, adventurous life.
Our paths lead us to certain people for a reason. To teach us to be a better version of ourselves. To help us grow, to challenge us, to make us realize who we want to and do not want to be. Sometimes looking a little harder can help us see a bigger, more eye opening picture.
