As a preschool teacher, you learn many different lessons. One being that abstinence is probably the best answer to life’s hardest questions. Another being that any problem life throws at you can be solved with a band-aid and a kiss. But what can these little masterminds really teach us about life that we adults seem to have forgotten?
Currently it is the middle of nap time, and while most children are snuggled up with their Frozen-themed blankets, dreaming away, I sit at a table with two bright eyed, bushy tailed three-year-olds, curiously watching me type away. So, why not let them help write this article for me? While incapable of typing actual words, they have proved to be much more of a help then most would think. “The first question,” I ask, “what does it mean to be a good friend?” the girls eagerly look at each other and both without hesitation agree that the way to be a good friend is to share your goldfish and pretzels.
When you stop and think about it, they are absolutely right. As adults we forget the simple human nature of sharing and feel entitled to anything and everything. We pass homeless people on the streets, begging for food and we don’t even take a second glance. And why you may ask? Because we look for what benefits us. Without a benefit what is the point? But as three year olds they still see a benefit, even without a physical form of reimbursement, they see it as if they share their food they gain a friend. So as adults we need to remember, not every good deed needs a payment in return, simply pay it forward.
Paying it forward isn't the only lesson to be learned from these three-year-olds. Every day I see my class of twenty interact with each other, each day starting fresh, never remembering why they were fighting with someone the day before. You see, in their minds, forgiving and forgetting is just part of life, they don’t hold grudges or seek revenge, they simply move forward and forget anything was ever wrong. They may fight over ridiculous things, like the toy they want to play with or chair they want to sit in, but ultimately, after an apology is given, the matter is over and they are back to being best friends. Friendship to them isn't something worth losing over a silly fight, they would rather forget about the conflict and go play with toy trains together for the rest of the day.
As adults, I wish we could value friendship enough to set our conflicts aside and forget about it, but sometimes our conflicts are a little too complicated to do that. Just because we have more complicated issues with our friends, doesn't mean we cant forgive and forget; these kids have shown me that accepting their differences and moving on is best for everyone involved, and ultimately makes for a better day. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather make my days the best they can be, with my friends by my side.
So, yes, they are three years old, but in my opinion, us as adults have a lot we can gain from them. We forget simple values that we are taught as we grow up, so sometimes we should be reminded of these. I wouldn't have thought that I would be reminded by such young souls, but I am thankful that I have been.
