As a parent, you are considered to be your children’s guide. Even under the law, any child under 18 is still subject to the decisions you make for them. You know what is best for the child and you work based on that principle. However, even though you are the older one and therefore wiser, there are a couple of things you can learn from your very young child. Family bonding is about acknowledging that everyone has something to bring to the table. So both parents and children can learn from each other. Here are a couple of lessons you can learn.
Ask questions
It is called a child-like sense of wonder for a reason. Children are curious about everything and anything. They will ask a bunch of questions no matter how annoying it may be to the person answering them. Somewhere along the road to adulthood, you stopped being curious. You stopped asking questions. Actually, these days some grownups think that asking too many questions shows how stupid you are. However, what is the point of pretending to be a know it all? It is okay not to know, it is just not okay to be ignorant. Find the hunger for knowledge and adventure you once had and ask as many questions as you need to along the way.
Be yourself
A child will be who they are unapologetically. They will live their best lives unafraid of what people might say or think. Society has engraved it in your mind that accepting and being who you are is a bad thing. That there are traits you need to hide in order to fit in and to be liked. There is nothing as exhausting as pretence. So why do you keep doing it? Embrace your inner child and be the best version of yourself that you can be and do so unapologetically!
Quit judging people
When you take your child to the playground, they rush to play with the other kids. They play with whoever is willing to regardless of financial background, ethnic community, or religion. Sadly these days, this is something that is fading off at a very young age. Even the older children start to segregate themselves at some point. By the time you are an adult the idea is so engraved in your mind, you barely notice when you are avoiding some people based on these things. You may even feel better than others because of something you have or where you came from. This is not a very easy thing to admit to yourself but keep observing your little one. It may just push you to have that conversation with yourself.
Laugh
The irony of this one is that you find joy in your children’s laughter. Yet it is sometimes so hard for you to find personal joy and reasons to laugh. While it is understandable that they do not have all the responsibilities you may have, they are still really great role models when it comes to having random bouts of joy. The child you reprimand in the morning will be laughing with you in the evening. Why then is it so hard for you to let go of old grudges and find peace enough to be happy?
Be your own hero
Whenever children watch a superhero movie or cartoon, you may see them running around wearing red caps and masks. When they excitedly share their accomplishments with you, they are the hero of their story and they are not ashamed to admit so. As you grow up, in an attempt not to seem egotistic, you tend to start to downplay your achievements. If you do so long enough your brain starts to register a sense of incapability. There is nothing wrong with being modest but there is nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishments either.
Learn how best you can bond with your child – Parenting: How To Build A Stronger Connection With Your Children
Also, check out 8 Principles Of Good Parenting
As a parent, you can learn from or teach your children about money. Dealing With ‘Black Tax’ Part 2: Building Generational Wealth To Break The Black Tax Cycle
