Have you ever really watched and listened to a toddler or a small child? Of course you have! But have you really? There are so many things we learn by observing innocence in action – things we should try to carry with us into our daily adult lives.
Here are 22 life lessons we learn from children:
1. A book before bedtime settles us down, and helps us fall asleep.
2. Joy is usually found in very simple things. For example, running barefoot across the lawn with a new puppy is one worth mentioning.
3. Cold apple juice rocks. At snack time, there is really no substitute for apple juice and a heaping handful of goldfish crackers.
4. Temper tantrums are God’s way of telling us we need a timeout to reflect on our own behavior.
5. There is no softer or greater comfort than a warm, suffocating hug from our grandmother, who happens to smell just like peonies mixed with chocolate chips.
6. And on the subject of Grandmothers…There are no other cookies that will ever compare to hers. Ever.
7. A noble fight to have is the one we wage for equality between busy time, and rest time.
8. We instantly feel a little better when someone else swoops in to take care of us when we are sick.
9. It’s not okay for other people to pick out our clothes. We’ll wear what we want to wear, damn it, and we don’t care if it matches!
10. When we do something well, we like to be praised. We like to be praised a lot. Don’t make us ask.
11. Holding hands when crossing a busy street is always a good idea.
12. The ability to sleep away a long car ride is both a gift, and a skill.
13. Witnessing a giraffe give birth can be gross, and wonderful, and life changing.
14. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is often the best choice for lunch. That and a small vanilla milkshake to go with it. Hands down. This is not actually up for debate, so take your arugula salad with grilled fish and pine nuts to another table, mmmmKay?
15. It’s alright to be scared about stuff, and to tell someone about our fears.
16. Music, art, and physical activity bring us greater happiness than toys, computers, and cell phones ever will.
17. Ice cream may not solve every little life problem, but it most certainly solves some. Especially if we add sprinkles.
18. Cozy PJ’s after a bath on a Saturday night is radical self-care.
19. Saying, “no, I don’t want to do that,” is also radical self-care.
20. Nobody likes going to the doctor or the dentist, so just get over it.
21. The most important parts of any good friendship are shared weirdness, trust, and prolonged, tear-inducing belly laughs.
22. Listening, watching, and wondering are the three greatest human superpowers, and they do not require magic. They merely require our presence.
*Bonus: It’s okay to feel giddy when we find out we’re having hot dogs for dinner!