Remember those days when everything seemed safe, the world didn’t seem so harsh, and the biggest worry you had was when your markers dried out? We forget about the times when everyone would drop everything to do anything for us, tuck us into bed, walk us to the bus and hold us until our tears went away. This summer I had the privilege of working with hundreds of amazing children at a child care center near my home. Although I had to be a positive role model by guiding them and helping them grow, they actually helped me grow as a person and taught me many things that I had forgotten from my childhood.
They reminded me that hugs mean everything.
There is absolutely nothing a hug can’t fix. I think we forget that sometimes you just need a hug to remind yourself how loved you are.
They reminded me that life is about smelling the roses.
Kids will wait for a toy they want for literally hours if it meant that much to them. I think we tend to forget that life isn’t about always being in a rush. We get mad at McDonald's for taking too long on our nuggets and angry when the Starbucks line takes more than five minutes. Sometimes we overlook the little things and we miss the small things that make life so special. Children never fail to find the little joys in life and appreciate them. Take notes from these youngsters.
They reminded me that patience really is a virtue.
Working with kids has taught me that patience truly is a gift that you have to continuously work on. Whether it’s teaching them how to go to the bathroom or letting them figure out things on their own, we all had to do it at some point, and it’s important to take a deep breath and remember that it’s all going to work out. Sometimes taking time and waiting for things can lead you to bigger and better things.
They reminded me that tickles fix the soul.
This is self-explanatory. The amount of happiness in the laughs that tickles provide is priceless. You can’t buy happiness, but the best free option is a tickle. I swear by it.
They reminded me that sharing really is caring.
The older we get, the more selfish we become. Working with kids this summer has reminded me that sharing never gets old and that what goes around comes around. Share one thing with one person and odds are they will probably let you borrow that shirt of theirs you’ve been dying to get but you’re too poor to purchase. Learning how to share as a kid was difficult because that was when you realized that you had to put others before yourself. As we grow older, we lose the mentality of putting others before ourselves and it’s important to gain it back.
They reminded me that you’re never too old to color … or cry.
If you’re ever stressed, grab a coloring book and some crayons and your worries will diminish. A kid never worries about anything else when a crayon and paper are in front of them, so why should you worry about the little things in life? I also learned that you are never too old to cry. Whether it’s painful tears or happy tears, crying is normal and you should never be ashamed of it.
They reminded me that life isn’t about the superficial things.
Kids don’t care how you look, how much money you make, what kind of car you drive, or how big your house is. They care about how kind you are to those around you and they care about how silly you can be. I think it’s hard to remember not to judge someone for how they appear or the superficial things that they have in their lives. Live graciously, give to others, have a happy heart and love those around you. Don’t focus on the things that don’t matter.
They reminded me how to forgive.
Children can be crying and screaming over a stolen toy one minute, and the next they are playing without the toy but with the person who took it in the first place as if they have been best friends since birth. Forgive and forget is something that kids do so well and something that older people struggle with. Instead of holding grudges and being unhappy about unimportant things, forgive those who you care about. It takes less effort than holding a grudge.
Dream big and never look back.
Kids have dreams of being the President of the United States, town heroes, inventors, even astronauts. What made us change our minds as we grew older? Dream crazy things and make them happen. You have the power to be anything you want to be and change the planet, literally. One amazing dream put to work can change anything and everything around you. The sky is no limit. DREAM BIG!
