Monday, January 7, 2013

The Things Our Kids Teach Us

[Aiden, at the Ann Hamilton Event of A Thread Exhibit]
Scene: Aiden and I are talking about random things. Every and anything. The conversation suddenly turns to talk about Skylanders, a game (or action figures or some sort of new "thing") that all the kids in his class are obsessed with, yet I am not getting it for him until he's at least 6-years-old. Call me "Mean Mommy."

Aiden: Can we go to Target to look at the Skylanders toys?
Me: No.
Aiden: But I'm not... um, um, you don't have to buy it because I'm not 6-years-old, but I just want --
Me: No. But we can discuss it when you're 6-years-old. That game is not for a five-year-old.
Aiden:
(Shocked. And a little annoyed.) Mommy, I didn’t finish what I was saying!
Me:
Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll stop doing that from now on.
Aiden:
(Continues with his suggestion. I listened to the entire thing this time. But I still didn't take him to Target.)


Two days later…
Aiden and I are talking about random things. Every and anything. The conversation suddenly turns to talk about Skylanders, a game (or action figures or some sort of new "thing") that all the kids in his class are obsessed with, yet I am not getting it for him until he's at least 6-years-old. Call me "Mean Mommy."

Aiden: Can we go to Target to look at the Skylanders toys?
Me: No.
Aiden: But I'm not... um, um, you don't have to buy it because I'm not 6-years-old, but I just want --
Me: (A little annoyed. I mean, seriously! How many times are we gonna talk about this toy?!) No! But we can discuss it when you're 6-years-old. That game is not for a five-year-old.
Aiden: (Shocked. And more than a little annoyed.) Mommy, I didn’t finish what I was saying! You said you we're going to do that anymore!

And just like that, Aiden taught me something else about life.

Sometimes I tend to cut people off at times when I think I know what they’re going to say. So sometimes I tend to finish off their sentences or answer their questions before they finish speaking. (I call it "Saving Time," but I guess it's kinda rude.) 

And my five-year-old is teaching me to stop doing this. And let people finish their sentences and statements and questions. Because what they have to say is important. It’s not just about me and my precious time.

Man, I love that kid for all the lessons he teaches me.

What are some things you’ve learned from your children?

7 comments:

  1. Kids do teach us a lot. When my daughter was 2, she started her sentences out by saying, "Hey..." I realized then that I do the same thing, and promptly stopped!

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  2. great lesson indeed. i still go by a phrase one of my little niece one said "Saying sorry is a beautiful thing." she was talking to her little brother of three and she was five. children are so wise

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  3. My son once said to me while I was in university going through finals "mom, you are cranky right now but it has nothing to do with me or the dirty dishes". He was 8 years old at the time and I was taking a particular tone with him about his chores. Man was he right. I learned a valuable lesson that day.

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  4. That's hilarious. Aside from it being a lesson learned, it just reminds us that kids seriously do not forget (at least when it's convenient for them LOL).

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  5. I love when that happens! They remember everything and have no problem throwing those reminders your way. I love how being a mom helps me to be a better person. Being mommy rocks!

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I love reading what you have to say!

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