As much as we have to teach to children, they have an equal amount to teach us in return. But only if we pay attention. I would like to think I am a good uncle to my 3 nieces and 2 nephews, collectively my “little people”. I love teaching them new things, new words (albeit it was once teaching the word Budweiser to an 18 month old, funny nonetheless) and just watching them figure things out. Those are the easy things in life, when it comes to the hard stuff we could learn so much more from them, than they could ever learn from us.
Kids aren’t jaded from that dirtiest of four letter words—life. They are the epitome of the phrase tabula rasa. They don’t prejudge….ever. Wish I could say the same about myself. They have an innate sense of fairness, and they detest hypocrisy. Nothing makes a child more angry, perhaps frustrated is a better word, than hearing “you can’t do that because I said so”. Do as I say, not as I do just doesn’t’ float with them, and truthfully how can we blame them? Think about the last time you were in a situation at work or with a peer, who would rail against a certain behavior or habit, then turn around and do that very thing. If it’s enough to piss you off, imagine how frustrating it must be for a child who doesn’t have the same ability to reason and understand that we do (or that some us do). We would do well to follow their example and not prejudge, or be hypocritical.
They also appreciate the little things way more than we do. Bring a kid M&M’s or their favorite candy and see the way their face lights up, it’s the best 87 cents you can spend, it’s return on investment is immeasurable. Play catch with a young boy when he really wants to, and you can’t help but notice how this most American of past times can put a smile on his face and create memories that will last a lifetime, free of charge. Kids never miss a chance to laugh, never miss an opportunity to hug, and they smile ear to ear just because. We should all do the same. In fact there is nothing on earth with more curative powers or more "pure" than a child's laughter. I defy you not to laugh if you ever hear Sadie or Ryan laughing. It's intoxicating and helps you leave your "worries for another day"(work in a Fraggle Rock reference whenever you can I say).
My little people have also shown me time and again how important it is to get over things/disappointments. Sure they dwell on things, but nothing like adults do. A kid may protest for all of 2 minutes, which by the way is a disproportionate amount of their lifetime, they might even cry for 5 minutes (takes me much longer to get over a Michigan loss, tears included), but without fail they rebound and are back playing and laughing within 10 minutes every time. They don’t really dwell on things, they don’t hold grudges against anyone (even if their uncle threw them in the pool), which leads to the most important lesson I learn time and again from my little people….they only know how to love unconditionally, and they don’t know how to hate (except vegetables—this seems to be universally true, and I think they are right on this one too). Their love doesn’t come with conditions. I’ll only love you if I get to live in a big house just isn’t a thought that enters a kids mind. They just love, expecting nothing in return. It’s that simple and the beauty of it escapes definition.
They certainly makes us laugh with the things they say and do, and if we pay attention they teach us more than we teach them. And, for at least one uncle, they make you smile/laugh when inside you feel like doing anything but.
