Trying to figure out what a little kid is saying is like hearing someone speak a different language and having to figure out what they are saying within T minus five seconds or they begin screaming at you. It can be scary, overwhelming, and frustrating, but it can also be the boost of confidence I need to say, “Oh yeah, I knew what she was saying, I can do this!” The truth is, I can do this, and so can you!
There have been times when my daughter, being only two and a half years old and still learning how to emphasize her pronunciations of letters, when she’s said something and I’ve had to bite my tongue as I contemplate what to say next. Did she just say what I think she said? Oh, wait, no, thank goodness, she was talking about our kitty, Nala. And there have been more times than I can count where I’ve asked her to repeat what she’s said because it sounds like a made-up word, but to her, she’s been trying her hardest to explain to me that she just wants the bench moved.
Do Our Children Learn From Our Examples?
We don’t swear in our household, for the most part… I will admit there’ve been times I’ve thought about saying a swear word, like when I’ve stubbed my toe against the corner of the wall, or I slammed my knee into the countertop, but I don’t count those… I try to think of my sweet, sweet little girls, and I don’t want them to go around saying those nasty words just because they heard them from someone, so we choose not to use that kind of language in our home or our lives in general.
What I’ve learned from my toddler about language is that I have to be clear about what I am saying. I can’t use fluff words that exaggerate the situation or object, as it confuses her little mind. She is trying to learn, to grow her mind, and gain knowledge. When we tell her or describe to her what we are looking at, for instance, when we look at a picture of someone or something, we ask her what she sees first. This helps her to think about things she does know, and things we have taught her. It makes her put the puzzle pieces together in a sense, as it makes her focus on what we are asking her instead of us just saying. That’s a picture of your sister, and there’s a purple hat with a feather sticking out. We ask her to explain it, to tell us what color the hat is, what’s sticking out of it, and who the person in the picture is.
Do Our Children Talk A Lot?
Many people don’t believe us when we tell them that E talks a lot. They think she’s shy and quiet. Which she is, but only when she wants to be. At home, she talks nonstop because it’s her way of communicating and sharing her thoughts and what’s on her mind. This is how she learns, it’s how she improves her vocabulary, and how we can know what she is and isn’t catching on to. From this, she’s taught me to share more of my feelings, to share what I’m thinking aloud, and to be more open about what I see, hear, smell, taste, etc. Being descriptive encourages our minds to focus and catch the small details that most people, myself included, usually just look past without thinking. Having a toddler will do that to a person; it helps me to be more observant and acknowledge those little things, and appreciate them more.
How Can I Teach My Toddler Patience?
Trying to teach a toddler patience is not a task for the impatient. This has taught me in many ways that if I am asking my toddler to practice patience, then I, too, must learn to be patient with her as she learns how to do the same. How hypocritical of me would that be if I expected her to immediately know how to be patient, yet in my 22 years of life, I still have yet to master that skill? She’s only begun a life of learning, and I’ve had much longer to learn that and many other skills we are teaching her. I am still learning, and she’s just begun.
Patience is hard, and sometimes it stinks to have to wait. For example, I often wish our house had all the fixings and updated looks right now, but sadly, that’s not a reality or realistic. We have to sometimes work towards things we want in life, and slowly progress towards a certain goal we want to achieve. I must be patient with our progress, and be patient with the curveballs life throws at us that cause us to put off those goals for a little while. It’s not easy, but it will get done, eventually! Practicing patience doesn’t necessarily mean that I’ll always be patient, but it does mean that I’m actively practicing to hopefully someday be able to make patience an easy skill I can possess in my everyday life.
What is One of the Most Important Lessons We Can Teach Our Daughters?
E has learned to say no, and no thank you, but it’s not always easy to stick to that answer when it’s given. We’ve taught her that her body is hers and hers alone. If she doesn’t want to hug someone, or doesn’t want someone to touch her, she can simply say no or no, thank you. Some may get offended by this, but that doesn’t mean she loves them any less, or that she doesn’t want to be with them. She simply does not want her body to be touched, held, hugged, etc.
She still loves you, still cares about you, just like your body is yours, her body is hers. She has the right to decide who she will and will not permit to hug her, kiss her, hold her, hold her hand, etc. I admire that she has the confidence to say no. I could learn and have learned that saying no doesn’t have to be something we are ashamed of. It should be something we are confident and proud of, because we have that agency to choose for ourselves.
If someone gets offended because you decided you didn’t want to do something you were uncomfortable with or simply didn’t want, that is not your fault. They had the choice to be offended just as much as you had the choice to say no. We are all individuals with our own choices, our bodies, minds, hearts, and opinions. Let’s respect one another’s boundaries and respect each other in general. Follow the example that Jesus set, and love one another as he has loved each of us, even if they say no to hugging you.
What Have My Children Taught Me?
Since having my two beautiful little girls, I’ve learned to cherish every single moment and memory. Every moment with them is a blessing, every chance that I get to watch them grow, to experience their smiles, their laughs, their successes, and especially their little quirks and personalities I adore. My heart is filling up more and more each day as I get to witness their lives grow with knowledge and understanding. Getting to see them interact and learn from Ethan and me has made me thankful for everything my life has led to thus far. Children are God’s greatest gifts to the world, and I finally understand why.
The way they squeal when their happy, the sound of their piddle paddle of feet as they run across the living room, the songs they sing when they think no one is listening, and the words of love they share with their dolls and toys. No matter what, children always seem to see the good in the world and every living thing. They love harder than anyone, and this is something we can all learn to be better at. They are probably the best example of love right next to God that we can learn from, and I hope to someday be as loving, as kind, and as filled with light, joy, and happiness as my children.
It’s hard to admit when we’re wrong, but it’s a rewarding experience to learn from our mistakes and recognize that we’ve grown, allowing us to apply what we’ve learned to be better the next time.
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”
McKenna Sanders
The Mom, Wife, Dream Life Blog
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