Family Views – October 2014

We are four weeks into the school year. The wave of emotions that came with those first weeks are now fading into a sea of monotony, and we are getting into the groove of schedules and carpools. The teachers are teaching and kids are learning; meanwhile, parents are making sure the kids are where they need to be, are rested and fed and doing their very best to help with homework, even though the parents may barely understand it!

As I anticipate the next eight months of the school year and all the things my kids will, (hopefully) learn, I think about all the things kids will teach us along the way, such as:

Kids teach us that we are a little bipolar. We can be so angry with them over some dumb-kid thing and the next moment be overwhelmed with love because they read their brother a story or helped fix his broken Bionicle.

Kids will teach us that kisses are magical. A kiss can magically take the pain away from my six-year-old’s hurt knee. Kisses also work their wonder when strategically-placed on my 14-year-old’s forehead, as I try to ease the disappointment of whatever teenage trouble he may be going through at that moment.

Kids teach us that we have Superman powers. No matter how bad their day was, we are able to make it better with a gentle word, even if it is one of correction. Somehow we know how the pieces of their little hearts are supposed to fit back together.

Kids teach us humility. It’s certainly humbling when your ten and six-year-old have a horrible fight at church and your six-year-old decides that sign language would be an appropriate way to handle his anger towards his brother. Unfortunately, you don’t need to be fluent in sign language to understand the gesture or the message being sent. That, friends, is a lesson in humility.

Kids teach us how to find our funny bones. Let’s face it, bare bums, loud farts and milk out the nose is just downright funny.

Kids teach us joy, like never imagined. In the middle of a child throwing-up all night, or crying over not making the team,or trying to make sense out of the untimely death of a loved one, you witness the wonder of their minds and the hugeness of their hearts. You discover the joy of sharing those tough moments with your kids because it’s forming them into who they are going to become. You get to see their weaknesses and their amazing strengths and that IS joy.

So, as we move through this mine field called “life,” let’s embrace what our kids have to teach us. When things blow-up in our faces, as they will, let’s pick ourselves up and continue to do what we know is right; continue to love on, and take the best care of our kids as possible. But, as we parent and teach them, let our hearts remain open to the lessons our kids may have for us. It may just change our world!