Children Are Wonderful Teachers
Our learning begins at an early age. It starts with our parents, grandparents, friends, and teachers. Slowly, our education, relationships, and careers mould us into the person we are. But the learning doesn’t stop here.
Every person we meet has something valuable to teach us – even children. Often, we underestimate how smart, intelligent, and instinctive kids truly are (not to forget incredibly honest, fun to be around, and deeply forgiving). These little miracles of God possess an amazing ability to teach us some of the most valuable skills and life lessons – if only we are willing to listen, observe, and learn.
3 THINGS I LEARNED FROM MY NIECES AND NEPHEW
Becoming an aunt to three adorable kids has been one of the most joyful experiences of my life. It’s a warm, fuzzy feeling I will never forget. And it’s a whole lot of fun being an aunt too. There’s so much to enjoy.
You Get To
- Interact with some awesome kids who make you feel like you’re the coolest person around.
- Savour a lot of warm bear hugs.
- Laugh a lot and act silly.
- Revisit your childhood and talk like you did eons ago without feeling weird.
- Buy and binge-eat some of your childhood favourites without an ounce of guilt.
- Spoil those little munchkins with a healthy dose of auntie love.
- Make wonderful new friends for life.
- And, of course, learn many essential life lessons and become better people in the process.
I have had firsthand experience of just how much we can grow from spending quality time with children.
3 Unforgettable Life Lessons Learned From Kids
Being an aunt has given me a chance to interact with children of different ages, and I truly believe that kids as teachers are amazing. Learning from children can become an enriching experience, once you are open to it. I highly recommend everyone to spend time with kids and grow as people.
Here are some wonderful things I learned from my interactions as an aunt –
1. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR WORD
Often, we grown-ups say things we don’t mean and make promises we don’t intend to keep.
Kids, on the other hand, are straightforward individuals who believe what they hear and hold on to what you say. Come to think of it, children have a lot more integrity than a lot of us.
It was during one of my many phone conversations with my oldest niece (who has grown to become a talented, loving, and sensible young girl) that she reiterated the importance of keeping one’s word.
It was her summer break and time for our customary phone conversations. I ended my call one day, promising to call her back, at the same time two days later.
Something came up and as we adults often do, I could not keep my promise to her.
Of course, she waited on the phone for my call. The next time we spoke, she gently reminded me of my promise to call her back. I could hear the disappointment in her voice.
My niece made me realize that while it is easy to forget, it is so important to remember.
LESSON LEARNED:
Integrity is one of the greatest virtues we can develop as humans. Use your words wisely and don’t make promises you can’t or won’t keep – it might just hurt someone.
ALSO READ: What I Learned About Writing from Temple Run
2. IT IS THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS
Think about your most cherished and fondest memories with the people closest in your life – the people who are still with you or those who you may have lost with time.
You will realize that these memories are special to you because of the way you felt at that given moment/phase in your life – happy, loved, blessed, secure, appreciated, or admired…
Good sentiments have the power to turn the most mundane day or an ordinary moment into a treasured memory for life, and who better than kids can teach us how to make every moment special?
My younger niece was having lunch with us one afternoon.
As most of us took a place at the dining table, she asked me to come and eat with her. I told her that I will be eating a little later and that she should finish her lunch. My niece wasn’t convinced!
She looked around her and noticed that there wasn’t any spare chair for me. She got up and reached out for a soft stool that was kept in a corner and placed it next to her chair. Now that she had made space for the both of us, she asked me to sit next to her so that we could eat together.
I was touched by her sweet gesture and her good intentions. Needless to say, this memory is forever etched in my mind.
My niece showed me how easy it is to make someone feel special and how good intentions never go to waste.
LESSON LEARNED:
Genuine sentiments and good intentions are invaluable. Your caring ways can create unforgettable memories for someone.
DON’T MISS: Life Lessons Learned From My Grandmother
3. EVERY STORY IS IMPORTANT
In today’s fast-paced life, the biggest gift we can give someone is our time. Growing connectivity with the ‘unreal’ digital world is causing us to drift away from what’s real and right in front of us. And sadly, with distractions abound, the art of listening is quickly losing its significance.
And it is during these times that we must make an extra effort to be there for the people in our lives – a good place to begin is by listening instead of hearing, expressing instead of nodding, and communicating instead of assuming.
My nephew is an inquisitive little boy with an active imagination. He is also an avid storyteller.
Whenever he comes over, he loves to tell me about his day, his friends, and his favorite toys, and demands my complete attention 🙂
The last time we sat down together to talk and play, he started telling me about something new that he had learned in class. Half-way through our conversation, I received a work email and as we grown-ups usually do, I instantly began to reply to the email.
It wasn’t that I stopped hearing what my nephew was saying but simply, that I wasn’t listening anymore. I was distracted and he knew it. He stopped talking and asked me not once, but twice to listen to him. That instant, I realized that I had so easily become one of those gadget-crazy people who could not ignore the call of the ‘digital world’.
I put away my phone and asked my favorite little guy to pick up from where I had left off. This time around, he had my 100% attention.
My nephew helped me appreciate that every story is important.
LESSON LEARNED:
If there is one thing we should readily give to the people in our lives, it is our time. A listening ear and a genuine smile go a long way in making us better people. Distractions will never cease to exist; your sincerity, realness, and integrity are yours to maintain and preserve.
Also Read: Embroidering Made Me a Better Writer
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Yes, kids sometimes test our patience and drive us crazy with their naughty ways, but they also have an amazing capacity to teach us valuable life lessons and surprise us with their care, concern, and maturity. If there’s a child in your life, do try to spend as much quality time with them as you can, as you will get to learn some amazing lessons from children that will stay with you for a long time to come!
Are you an aunt or an uncle? Do you have any life lessons learned from kids? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments section below.
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