Lessons from a Child Teacher
My daughter did, in some ways, become an additional appendage as I carried her through my travels and into a new business. She was a trooper to say the least and I had to learn that being realistic with my time and “perfectionist” ways was the only way to maneuver through our lives. Did I say that I learned that lesson? Well if I had a teacher, it would be a small, beautiful child with my eyes and her dad’s smile!
The lessons that my daughter has taught me are immense. Her sheer joy of living life is a true measure that I learn from every day. Here are a few examples she has taught me in her four short years of life:
1. She has taught me patience. Her example of exerting patience with me is when I have to ask her to wait for me to finish a business call or email before we can play princess or a card game. She ‘waits patiently’ for me every single day. I remember that lesson when I need to wait for someone to help me, or when I have to wait for her to “I-do-it-myself” at almost anything these days! Whether it is trying to tie her shoes or pouring her own glass of juice. Patience…it’s a beautiful gift.
2. She has modeled an acceptance of human beings that I think most adults should learn. I will never forget her talking to a lovely man in a wheelchair and saying she liked his ‘bike’! He just chuckled and looked up to me and said what a grand little person I have as a daughter. I cried.
3. She is fearless at trying new things. Just last February we went to Disneyland. Her favorite ride was the Matterhorn even though she was just over the height limit! She is a lover of new tastes as well. She loves spinach and green peas (not my favorite!) so we eat them for dinner on a weekly basis.
4. Freedom to choose her own identity, even when it might not match what the outside world thinks she should be. The other day she asked me what the word fabulous meant. I said it meant that it was great, wonderful, fantastic. She wondered if her choice of clothes for preschool was “fabulous” that day. (Mind you she has on a tattered tutu with her favorite tennis shoes and a too small t-shirt with a paint stain on the front!) I said that is WAS fabulous! Even though it wasn’t perfect, it was her own expression of being who she is. I LOVE IT!
These are all lessons we, as adults, can learn from our children. The message is to live life -- try new things -- even if you aren’t perfect at it or make a million mistakes trying, just do it. You may find a new hobby or a new friend. (My daughter’s newest friend at preschool is named Rafa. They met by playing swords which is certainly not her favorite game! But he returned the favor by playing house. They are engaged to be married – this week anyway!)
I hope that I can give her the freedom of being ‘realistic’ but the knowledge that she doesn’t have to be perfect either. I know she tries things all the time that are new and scary and different. Yet she doesn’t seem to be afraid to try even though she isn’t PERFECT by our adult standards.
As I said, I learn from her example every single day. Thank you for giving me the gift of your life Becca. Thank you for your lessons. It has been said that children are sent to us to be our teachers. I do believe that to be true.
