As parents, we can often be blind to the valuable lessons our children teach us. It was not always so. Many decades ago, when I was a child, I was taught that having your nose in a book was a sign of intelligence. We were also taught that children should be seen and not heard. Not only was this a time when kids didn’t go to school unless they were sick, but it was also an era when kids were expected to work as soon as they could walk. Little did I know that if I ever became a parent, I would pass on these lessons to my children. I highly recommend you pass them on to your own.
A recent survey of thousands of mothers and fathers revealed that many of our children are growing up faster than we’re ready to handle. It confirmed what many of us suspected. But how do we know this? It’s easy to forget that children are still young, naive and need our guidance. Many of our children are growing up faster than we’re ready to handle, and it’s time to call a halt. We need to stop and listen to them, take the time to encourage them, and offer them the support they need. So here are the Valuable Lessons We Learn From Our Children.
Be yourself
Being yourself is the most important thing. But being yourself is easier said than done. It seems that every day we are being asked to be someone else or to be someone we are not. From high school to the workplace to church, we’re often forced to pretend to be something we don’t feel like being. Being yourself is the most important thing because it is the only way to be fully yourself.
There are a lot of things I do for my children that I wish I hadn’t. Sometimes, I make them watch a movie that I know they don’t like, I accidentally let them eat something that I now know isn’t good for them, or I let them talk back when I want them to listen. I know that they’re only kids, and I know that they aren’t perfect, but that doesn’t stop me from being a bit disappointed with them.
Be happy
There’s a new word I’m learning today: insta-gratitude. It’s a term that’s making a lot of headlines, particularly on social media, and it’s the kind of response that can make you feel like you’re winning all the time. I’ve been guilty of falling into it myself, and I’m learning that I should be more mindful of what I’m grateful for. So, here’s a little routine I used to make sure I’m hitting the insta-gratitude button as often as possible. “Be Happy” is an updated blog. We hope to make this blog where parents may find valuable lessons that they may not have realized they needed to learn.
Be fearless
Fear is an emotion we have that can help us ensure our safety and protect us from danger. However, without the presence of fear in our lives, we may find ourselves relying on others to make the decisions for us, and the risk of relying on someone else to do our thinking for us can be catastrophic.
Fear is a natural human emotion that all of us experience from time to time. Nobody is immune to fear. Fear can strike at any time and can be triggered by anything and everything. Sometimes it can be paralyzing. Yet fear is a powerful emotion that can motivate us. Fear can inspire us to be our best.
To live a life without fear means to be fearless. We all have fears in the life of a variety of different things. Fear of something going wrong, getting hurt, being embarrassed, and so on. Fear of not being perfect. Not being able to live up to our standards. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of failure. Fear can be considered as a necessary emotion since anyone devoid of it loses out on many experiences. However, it is important to learn how to conquer your own fears. It is something that ministry leaders might teach kids at church with the help of church learning apps like Playlister (visit their home page for details). Parents can surely try learning this trait from kids.
As parents, we sometimes wonder if we are doing a good job. Do we raise them properly? Are they learning their lessons? Is time spent with them enough? We want them to be the best people they can be, but we also want them to grow up to be independent adults. What is the right balance? I have always had a fondness for school. From the very beginning, our education has been for us to learn. The opportunity to learn about ourselves and others has always been important. While our education is an important part of our development as a whole person, it is not the sole factor in building a solid foundation.
