It seems like when my kids head off to school this time each year, I start to reflect over the last 12 months. What I’ve done, who I’ve met, did I spend enough quality time with my kids (that answer is always no,) am I happy with the path I’ve chosen as a stay at home mom (that answer is always yes,) did I treat others the way I want to be treated.. etc. Then I start thinking about the things I need to improve on, immediately. Some might call these resolutions. Since I don’t make resolutions, I like to refer to these as “improvements,” a little facelift on life, if you will.
As I was thinking over the things I’m trying to better in myself, I started to think of the things I want to instill in my daughters, like being kind to other people, trying to help at least 1 person with something every day, and to talk less and listen more, just to name a few. When I repeat these things over in my head, I realize that I have a lot to learn from what I’m trying to teach my kids.
You get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit: Things don’t always go our way and maybe as adults we aren’t fighting over who gets the princess cup, but sometimes things just don’t go our way and that’s the way of the world.
Is it a big deal or a little deal?: Kids are prone to meltdowns. What I’m trying to get my kids to recognize is the difference between a big deal and a little deal. Not getting the purple helmet, little deal. Falling off your scooter and cracking your head on the pavement because you refused to wear your helmet, big deal. For me, when the cup of milk is spilled across the dinner table, I have to remind myself (at the end of a very long day) not to act like it’s the end of the world. No crying over spilled milk, right? Spilled milk = Little deal.
Get excited over the little things: As a grown up, I take too much for granted. I begrudgingly put up the Christmas Lights because I see it as a chore, I don’t feel like sitting outside for hours because it’s too hot, too cold or too humid. But I should really take a page from my kids book, and learn to dance in the rain. Life is way too short and it’s ok to get that excited about a cupcake.
1, 2, 3 Eyes on Me: When I talk, I expect my kids to listen. But when they’re talking to me, do I give them the same respect? Am I checking my email, updating my Twitter or Facebook while they’re trying to tell me about Peppa Pig or asking about a lost crayon? When they have something to say, at that moment in time, it is the most important thing in their world. You may think you can multitask and “Uhhhh Huh” your way through the conversation, but it’s not polite. They deserve the same respect we ask of them.
What lessons are you learning from your tiny humans?
Guilty, guilty and guilty. Thank you for the reminders. My lesson for the day, today and everyday, is patience. I think about how immediately I expect my girls to act/react when I want/need them to, but I am often slow to give them the same quick response. Do unto others…