Who’s Teaching Who? When Kids Teach Parents

By | August 18, 2011

I could stand to learn a thing or two from my toddler. She could stand to learn about 14 zillion things from me, but that’s not what this post is about. It’s about what I’m learning from her. And it’s pretty good stuff, if I do say so myself.

10 Things I could Learn From My Child

1. To never, never, never, never give up. Winston Churchill ain’t got nothing on my girl.

Who's Teaching Who? When Kids Teach Parents 

2. To wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m not a very gushy person. I think I can be pretty affectionate (given the situation) but I don’t lay it on too thick. If you’re toast, and I’m butter, we’re usually on a diet. I’ll write you a sonnet, but it may be hard for me to just say “I love you” out of the blue.

I have issues.

3. To eat more broccoli. And tomatoes. Yesterday my child dipped her tomatoes in ketchup for lunch. Redundant? Yes, but not many moms can just hand their kid a tomato and expect them to eat it.

4. To negotiate. The future is wide-open for my little manipulator child. Somehow, she always manages to extract one more story, one more bite, one more episode of Mickey Mouse, one more minute on the playground, one more trip to the bathroom, one more cookie, one more sip, one more song, and one more swig of my energy every day.

Who's Teaching Who? When Kids Teach Parents

If I had her tenacity I’m sure I’d be making a little more money. One more dollar?

5. To take pleasure in the small things. You could give Coco a piece of dental floss and she’d receive it like a prized jewel. She loves my junk mail, her one-legged baby doll (aptly named “Poor Baby”), and yes, she’s even been known to cherish a piece of toilet paper. Unused I hope think.

6. To bounce back. Whether she’s been sick with the flu, fallen off of a swing, or burned her tongue on the coffee she swiped from me–the child will. bounce. back.

I, on the other hand, usually wallow in my misery, nurse it, remember it, remind everyone of it, and therefore, do. not. bounce. back. It’s rather unfortunate.

7. To not care what people think.

Who's Teaching Who? When Kids Teach Parents

I’ve noticed with Coco that she really doesn’t give a hoot if her hair isn’t just right. She also doesn’t mind if there’s ketchup on her face. And there’s always ketchup on her face, so this works out to her advantage.

8. To enjoy. Ok, now I do enjoy things in my life. I enjoy my family, my food, my coffee–but Coco enjoys just about everything.

Who's Teaching Who? When Kids Teach Parents

There’s a line in Knocked Up where Paul Rudd says, “I wish I liked anything as much as my kid likes bubbles.”

Now, that’s a pretty pessimistic statement; however, when’s the last time you went crazy over something as simple as bubbles? hmmm.

9. To melt hearts. Duh. I would love to be able to raise my eyes, pout my lip, and and whisper “I’m sorry” like she does.

Wait a sec. Yep. She got that from me. Never mind.

10. To make people feel like a million bucks every time I smile at them. Coco’s smile has brightened my life from the moment she “had gas” in the NICU and stunned Matt and I with her dazzling smile.

Ever since she was a baby people have said, “She smiles with her eyes!” And it’s true. When Coco smiles at you, EVERYTHING in her is smiling. And you feel amazing.

****

She will learn a lot from me. A ton, in fact. We have a long way to go before she’s a fully functioning member of society. But, what she’s taught me has shown me that I have a long way to go–and she’s gonna help me get there.

 Who's Teaching Who? When Kids Teach Parents 

**This post was written in response to Mama Kat’s Weekly Writing Prompt. Head over there for some great writing!

33 thoughts on “Who’s Teaching Who? When Kids Teach Parents

  1. hilljean

    What can anyone say except you are one lucky mom. I thank you everyday for sharing your wonderful stories. It brightens my day each morning to open my email and see your post there. Thanks. Donna

    Reply
  2. hilljean

    She is TOO CUTE! I bet my son would love her. They could watch Micky Mouse together. ????

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  3. hilljean

    This is just beautiful. Especially the part about letting go of hurts instead of nursing grudges. I needed that one this morning. Like, right now.

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  4. hilljean

    Your daughter is adorable and You are beautiful!! This was such a cute post..and I could def use some of these tips as well.

    Reply
  5. hilljean

    Thank you so much! that is such a sweet complement to read ????

    Reply
  6. hilljean

    Just read your post–they are alike ???? Good thing we have Mama Kat to bring out the best in our children. For our own sakes ????

    Reply
  7. hilljean

    That was great! Those are all things we can take away and apply to our own lives.

    Reply
  8. hilljean

    Wow, those are some really good lessons and she is a beautiful child! What a sweet post!

    Reply
  9. hilljean

    Kids are like little mirrors that show us all the areas we need to improve. But then they hug us, think we’re amazing, and then ask for more juice afterword. God knew what he was doing, that’s for sure.

    Reply
  10. hilljean

    Your daughter is GORGEOUS!!! What a fabulous post, she melted me like buttah.

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  11. hilljean

    Oh my goodness, this melted my heart…especially that last picture of you two…you girls are gorgeous!

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  12. hilljean

    What a sweet post. It’s so true; kids really help us re-focus on the small and important stuff. Coco’s adorable!

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  13. hilljean

    It’s so hard to just get over things, isn’t it? I guess the older we get the more attached we are to our old hurts. Emotional, physical, whatever.

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  14. hilljean

    Had to let you know. I shared on my face book page again! My Life.

    Reply
  15. hilljean

    These are great lessons to learn. I’m with you on #6, I don’t bounce back either.

    Reply
  16. hilljean

    You make me proud, Hill! And Cosette, is of course, amazing:) Id’ like to say “ditto” to the comment by Galit Breen… I couldn’t say it better myself!

    Reply
  17. hilljean

    So cute. The entire time i was reading it, Josie was only intrested in seeing coco and saying “HI COCO! HEY COCO! HI” It was cute. She misses her ????

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  18. hilljean

    Oh thank you ???? The one of the two of us is from a few months ago. We got to be in my Sis-in-law’s wedding. Coco made me carry her flower basket last minute and she got the bouquet.

    Reply
  19. hilljean

    She’s such a cutie. Those are really great lessons that kids can teach us. Visiting from Mama Kat’s

    Reply

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