Unlearning Through Our Children: Lessons in Growth and Empathy
As a mother of a 11-year-old son, I was focused on achieving and maintaining a certain image of social popularity for him. However, it was a recent conversation that changed my perspective forever. My son inadvertently taught me a valuable lesson about what it truly means to be a good person in life.
Lesson 1: Being a Good Person is More Important than Being Popular
He had been invited to a party by a boy from his class, but instead of joining his friends, he decided to spend the entire day talking to this shorter boy whom he found touching. When I questioned him about it, he simply said, I know being popular is good, but being a good person is so much better. This statement struck me to my core, highlighting the importance of empathy and authenticity over surface-level popularity.
Lesson 2: The Power of Empathy and Active Listening
Children often just need someone to listen to them, someone to validate their feelings, and someone to give them that space where they can just be themselves. My son taught me that sometimes all a child needs is a patient ear. He has shown me the value of empathy and active listening, traits that we can all benefit from in our daily lives.
Expectant Mothers Learn Too: The Insights of Baby Riehm
While my son is teaching me these valuable life lessons, I, the expectant mother, am also learning from my baby Riehm. Being 27 weeks pregnant, she's already putting her own unique stamp on our lives with unexpected and interesting lessons. For instance, I recently discovered that babies can actually tickle you from the inside! Whenever Riehm feels my belly contact another surface, she finds a way to kick or punch at that spot. When that spot happens to be my waist, it really tickles and there's no way to save myself from the giggles. Moreover, she has her favorite time to tickle her mom, which just happens to be during her parents' bedtime, leading to lots of giggles and more time spent laughing instead of sleeping!
Continuous Learning: The Definition of Karma
My son also helped me understand the concept of karma in a simpler way. When he asked for its meaning, I explained, What goes around comes around. But he added, So basically, karma is the flu! His interpretation was so humorous and relatable, showing me that sometimes a complex concept needs a more relatable angle to truly sink in.
Teaching and Learning Through Play
Another life lesson came when we were waiting for our dinner at Penn Station, and my son proposed we play a game with his eight quarters. He patiently explained the rules to me, showing me that he is not only learning but also growing and teaching. In the end, he taught me to play The Quarter Game, with the winning quarter being the one with the highest date. He won, of course, but the actual lesson here is about the value of patience and enjoyment that play brings into our lives.
Parenting is a constantly evolving journey. Sometimes, it is our children who provide us with the greatest opportunities for growth and learning. They remind us of the importance of being a good person, the value of empathy, and the beauty of play and joy in life.