I’ve been focusing so much on teaching your preschooler this and that, and I thought it was time to reverse roles a bit, and look at things that we learn from our kids. You’d be surprised at the number of things I came up with:

Here we go.

Self Praise

The next time you hear your child say he hit the ball over the trees, look at his obvious self pride. He’s bursting with it. When was the last you dared pat yourself on the back for a job well done? Go ahead. Write a list of all the things you love about yourself, and yes, put it up on the refrigerator.

Nothing is too small.

Can make a mean lasagna? On the list.

Involved in your child’s learning? Absolutely good enough.

Read it aloud everyday, and pat yourself on the back. You don’t have to do the helicopter dance, but a little strut in your walk won’t hurt.

Honesty

Kids say the darndest things. All the time. And at the most inappropriate times. How do you learn from that? Well, venting your feelings about someone to their face can be therapeutic. Your child is venting when he calls his friend a “stupid head.”

Does it make him feel good? You betcha!

Venting is therapeutic for you too. Unfortunately, we’ve been conditioned to be diplomatic all the time, even if that means biting your tongue and speaking “nice.”

Let that attitude go. It will be hard. Telling your MIL she’s an ass might be tough, but there’re no reason why you can’t tell her politely, but firmly, not to fill your kid’s ears with racist nonsense, if you find her doing so.

And there’s no harm in telling that condescending colleague of yours that you’ve just about had it with their attitude.

Go ahead. Chuck the diplomacy. Call them a stupid head.

Enthusiasm

Watch your child the next time he’s doing an art project on his own, or building a model. Observe how involved he is, how much enthusiasm he has for what he does. Then, take a look at your own “things have to be done because they have to be done” attitude. Kids have an enthusiasm for the smallest thing they do, while we as adults, begin to feel interest and enthusiasm waning for things we take for granted.

Affection

I wasn’t raised in a touchy-feely family myself, but I have absolutely no problem showering my boy with affection. Part of is good old maternal instinct, but part of it I am quite convinced, is how affectionate he is. There’s nothing better your child likes than a good warm hug.

You could take that same feel-good warm fuzziness that comes after you’ve exchanged a hug and kiss with your child to other relationships in your life.

Don’t remember the last time you hugged your Mom? Now’s the time. If a hug seems hard to muster, a simple hand hold will do. Any form of physical contact. With the people who matter in your life. Just because.

Unlimited Energy

Keep up with your kids. They come with naturally high levels of energy, while yours are probably slowly depleting at this point. Invest in your health. Getting fit has too many advantages to ignore. Only one of these is how much energy it allows you to enjoy your kids, participate in their games, and engage in their lives.

Go on. Race him up the stairs.

Be Messy

You read that right.

Kids are messy and disorganized, and leave stains and spills all over the place. Let it go.

It’s not the end of the world if you have a few grape juice stains on your carpet, or walls that have seen better days. If you find yourself tidying, dusting, wiping, mopping and cleaning, for the most part of the day, you’re letting precious time slip by without your kids. I am not saying you should let your house become a pig sty, but there are two sayings by I-don’t-know-who that I love:

A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.

Dull women have immaculate houses.

Do some basic tidying and cleaning – enough that your household doesn’t fall apart. Get your kids involved. Let them help with smaller cleaning up chores.

And then, stop.

Use the extra hours to take a walk with your child instead, or play a game.

Do some self esteem building exercises.

Or just watch a movie as a family.

I know women who clean, and dust and wipe, and put things back where they belong right up till bedtime, when they realize another day has gone by, and they haven’t even had a chance to look at what has happened in their child’s life that day.

Time flies too fast. Your kids won’t wait around for when you’re free from your housework.

The house will be fine, trust me.

So, has your child opened your eyes to new things and possibilities?