3 Valuable things my Toddler has Taught Me
I've learned so much from my daughter it's hard to select the most valuable. I want to start with the background of my phone. Back in the day, people used to carry around a wallet full of photos of their family, this is the modern day equivalent.
Every time I open my phone I see Brinley's smiling face.
This is probably the first of the 3 Valuable Things my daughter has taught me
1) Living FOR something is powerful: I remember the first night Brinley came home from the hospital. After my wife Caley had gone to bed I spent some time by myself reflecting on the experience. I remember being filled with a feeling of gratitude and reverence. It was then that I took an oath to spend the rest of my life serving Brinley and sharing everything of my being with this person. Living FOR something is so much more powerful than living to get something.
2) The time you spend now is the time you will receive later: A wise old friend and mentor of mine once told me a valuable lesson he had learned raising his children into adulthood. The quality of time and attention you give your children when they are young is proportional to the time and energy they will give you when you are old. I can already see how true this statement is and I'm so glad I came upon it.
3) Be the change, not force it: One of my personal core values is "Be the Change you want to see in the world". Put another way, live by example. The opposite or anti-value is "force change". Which basically means put pressure on others to conform to your desires and wishes. I already know that living by example is a far better way to effect positive change in the world, but Brin has made this crystal clear. I have seen such a different response from her when I model good behaviour versus when I try to make her do what I want. Point in case, if I want her to cleanup after dinner, If I tell her "clean up, no playing or desert until you put your dishes away" She get's her back up and the "Noooooos!!" Come out. However, if I get up from the table take my plate over to the sink and then turn to Brin and say "Hey could you help?" She almost always jumps into "super helper" mode!
Having children is a blessing and definitely a LOT of stress. As my wife often reminds me, "The struggle is real" and just like point 3 would imply Brin is happy to remind us that "The struggle is real for kids too".
What lessons have your children taught you? Please share them in the comment section or send them to me personally. I’d love to hear them!