I’ve been schooled! 10 Things My Toddlers Taught Me

Nov 29, 2013 | Mom Life

I used to think that adults know better than the younger ones. Think of the knowledge they gained and the experiences they went through, plus the number of years ahead of me, it’s obvious that I will learn from those who are older than me. Well, not all the time. Apparently, kids can still impart knowledge on the older ones. Not because they learned a lot from experience but because of their innocence and honesty, adults don’t realize the life lessons kids can teach us.

When I became a mother, I looked up to my own mom and ask her everything about parenting and motherhood. But when it comes about life and living it, my daughter has taught me the most important lessons. Toddler1. It’s okay to cry. My daughter cries when she’s hurt or mad. She’s not afraid to vent it all out and scream at the top of her lungs to tell me she doesn’t like what’s happening to her. While adults are not advised to scream when they cry, there’s nothing wrong with sobbing and shedding a tear, especially when we’re sad or mad or simply hurt. Crying is not a sign of weakness and our whole personality will not be defined by the number of times we cried.

2. Laugh, laugh and laugh as much as you can. Admit it, hearing a child laugh is infectious and definitely cures all the pain away. My daughter laughs really hard when she’s happy or when her dada tickles her. Adults too should do the same. When we hear something funny, laugh about it. Life is too short to waste and let’s all enjoy it while we still can. After all, laughter is the best medicine, right?

3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. My daughter points at things and asks for help when she doesn’t know how a particular toy or object works. We should all be like that too. If we don’t know how a certain gadget works, ask. If we don’t know the answer to a particular question, ask. Asking questions is not a sign of stupidity rather, it shows our willingness to learn and getting it right the first time. Just make sure to ask relevant and worthy questions.

4. Try and try until you succeed. This may be cliche but that’s how life is. I bought a shape sorter for my little girl and I was amazed by her determination to put the blocks according to its corresponding shape. And imagine the glow in her face when she finally get it right. That’s the right mentality. We should not give up just because we didn’t get it the first time. Keep on trying and we will eventually get the prize we deserve.

5. Be silly. We do crazy things just to get our kids to smile. And they will definitely love you for it. So what if you cross your eye or answer a fake cellphone or play make believe. We’ll end up laughing anyway, which is also a good thing.

6. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help. My daughter is in a stage where she wants to do things on her own and rarely even ask for help or support. However, there are times when she can’t do it and ask for help. That’s okay. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness or incompetence, especially when we don’t do it all the time. We can’t live just by ourselves and we need people around us to help us go through life.

7. Find someone we can trust. As my daughter grows, there are only a few people she wants to be with. She won’t even go near people whom she rarely sees and cling to my legs every time we’re on a public place. She finds comfort by holding on to people she really trusts. This shows that it will take years to build it. And when we finally found someone we can trust, take care of that relationship.

The next 3 are more on what I learned from handling my two year old.

8. Be patient. My two year old is handful. When taking care of her, my patience is really tested. I lose my cool at times, well most of the time, but there’s no point in scolding her. As a mom, all I can do is be patient with her and comfort her every time she needs me. That’s part of being a parent.

9. Love unconditionally.  When I became a mom, everything else changed. I stopped thinking about myself and all I think about is what I can do to be there for my baby even if I don’t get anything in return. My two year old has taught me to love, no questions asked. All of a sudden, everything is about my kids and being the best mom I can be without asking for anything.

10. Motherhood is a source of stress and happiness at the same time. Whoever said motherhood is easy definitely is not a mom. From the moment my babies were born up until now, taking care of them can be stressful. I have to go through changing their diapers and feeding them, waking up in the middle of the night and making sure all their needs are attended. However, nothing beats seeing their milestones for the first time – their first smile, first laugh, first time to crawl, first step, first word and all firsts in their life. And nothing can ever replace that.

18 Comments

  1. mommycharm

    There’s really a lot that we can learn from children especially the unconditional love part. Now I suddenly miss my son.. ^-^

    Reply
  2. islesgilian

    I keep learning from my sons. =) Kids and how they act are really pure sources of learning new things…or old things to be remembered. =)

    Reply
  3. katjrod

    This is so on point. I’m still learning. Thanks for this.

    Reply
  4. Meikah Ybañez-Delid (@Meikah)

    Yes, we can really learn from our kids, too. Their innocence and trusting view of the world can make you stop and rethink your views also. 🙂

    Reply
  5. pearliza paguio

    It’s give and take and I know it can be surprising how much we can also learn by listening to our kids.

    Reply
  6. Maan Laxa

    I love this. I wrote a similar post about 2 years back, too! It’s uncanny how much we learn from little people.

    Reply
  7. nilyncartagena

    One of the best things about having a toddler is being amazed of what they tell you and what they can do. The rewards of parenting!

    Reply
  8. Melisa Sanchez

    Yes I agree mommy, being a mom I learned a lot also from my child, a child’s heart is like an angel that taught us positive things.

    Reply
  9. Cheanne

    Agree on all counts. I think all moms will. 🙂

    Reply
  10. Jhanis

    Yes to all. Kids can be great teachers! 🙂

    Reply
  11. den

    We can really learn a lot from our kids, and they from us.

    Reply
  12. Alarcon Alfonso Noel Ruth

    This is very true mommy! Though I’ve learned a lot from school but my kids taught me the greatest lessons in my life. I’ve become the better person that I am now because of them.

    Reply
  13. Claire Pajarillo Santiago

    me too…everyday I learn from my kids that is why I make sure to spend time with them and listen to them

    Reply
  14. MrsMartinez

    I am lesrning something new from my daughter every single day.

    Xoxo
    MrsMartinez

    Reply
  15. Balot

    So true and I’m still learning especially with my patience during our homework sessions, hehehe…

    Reply
  16. Mamanee San Luis

    Love this list, I believe everyone can learn from anybody. 🙂

    Reply

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