6 Powerful Life Lessons That Shape Who I Am
Parenting is a profoundly humble experience. You learn about yourself and the world in a way you never thought possible. After becoming a mother, I was surprised by how much my children taught me.
Before I became a mother, I thought I was pretty well-versed in life. I had a fairly well-rounded worldview, with goals, routines, and responsibilities. Then I became a mother. The world I knew suddenly expanded. I saw the world through a new lens, one shaped by my childlike wonder at how little humans experience life in their raw emotions and curiosity.
The ability of children to reduce life to its essence is a beautiful thing. Children can live in the present, express themselves without a filter, and find joy even in the littlest things. They are not burdened by social expectations, time constraints, or pressures to be productive. They are just who they are. In their very being, they can teach us if we pay attention.
Amid chaos, such as school pick-ups, sticky fingers on the wall, and bedtime fights, I learn from my children every day. The small lessons are just as important, and they whisper more than shout.
My kids teach me six powerful lessons in life every day.
1. You Must Stop and Smell The Roses
Literally.
Let’s set the scene. It’s an average weekday. We have hurried out, with shoes still half on, me juggling car keys and grocery lists in the hope that we can get everything done before picking up our children from school. As we weave our way through the supermarket aisles, my daughter follows me. I’m about three paces in front, and barking “Come On!” over my shoulder. “We need to hurry!”
Then I stop. Not because I remembered something, or ran into someone I knew. She isn’t in front of me. Turning around, I’m flustered. There she is, quietly standing at the flower stand. She was not distracted by toys or asking for snacks. Leaning gently forward and inhaling a single flower’s scent. She sniffs each flower with reverence, from the rose to the tulip and daisy.
It was like a ton of bricks. She was stopping to smell roses while I was rushing around, checking boxes and focusing my attention on efficiency. In that moment, I felt humbled and touched.
Children remind us of the beauty that surrounds us, but we need to slow things down to notice it. How often do we miss something beautiful because we are too busy with our mental checklists and forget about it? How many times do we “just be too busy” to enjoy moments of joy or connection?
On that afternoon, I did not rush her. I smelled the roses with her, and we discussed which ones were the prettiest. Five minutes changed my entire day. It could have even changed my outlook.
2. Just Enjoy the Moment
Have you ever seen a child chase after a butterfly or a moth? They don’t even care about where the butterfly is going, how much time it will take, or if it fits in with their schedule. They run with wild abandon and pure joy.
My children remind me constantly that living in the present is not just a slogan printed on a T-shirt. It’s an attitude. Time is not something they manage, but something they experience.
We are almost trained to plan five steps is adults. Dinner must be prepared, laundry folded, and emails answered. We are so focused on the “what comes next” that our minds forget to enjoy the “what is.”
Kids don’t. They jump into a puddle if they want to. They will crouch to examine a bug if they spot one. When they listen to music, they dance without regard for their appearance. They are not influenced by expectations or outcomes.
We had a picnic at the park one weekend. I brought snacks, books, and a list of activities I thought we would “do” as a family. My son had different plans. He spent an hour, absorbed in throwing sticks into the creek. No structure. No structure. Pure, unstructured playing. You know what else? He was completely satisfied.
This hour taught me that sometimes it’s best to just be. Just be. Present. Aware. Open.
3. It’s Okay to Be Silly (and necessary)
It’s incredibly therapeutic to watch your children laugh at a joke that makes no sense.
Children are born silly. Children are naturally silly. They put their pants on top of their heads and sing during conversations. While I am often the one asking them to calm down before bedtime, or to “please stop screaming for five minutes”, I have come to appreciate their silly behavior.
The seriousness of life can make fit eel like a joke fit.
We often forget that laughter can make us feel good. Work deadlines, financial stress, and social expectations are all factors that cause us to lose sight of the joys of laughing until we hurt. We begin to believe that maturity is being reserved and composed at all times. But my kids? My kids remind me that silly isn’t just okay, it’s essential.
They teach me that playing is not a thing for children. It’s something you can grow out of. Playfulness is a source of joy, creativity connection.
Now I try to participate in the fun at times. In the car, we make up silly songs. Dance battles are held in the living rooms. Guess what? These are the moments I remember long after the dishes have been done and the lights have gone out.
4. Wear What the Hell You Want
I was standing in front of the mirror, deciding whether coral lipstick would be “too much” for the daytime. My daughter was walking by in a tutu with gumboots and a feather boa on a Tuesday.
She did not ask if the outfit matched. She didn’t ask if it was suitable. She loved the way it made her.
Children wear what they love. The story is over. They don’t make decisions based on what other people think or if they are following the latest trends. They mix patterns and wear superhero costumes to breakfast.
As I watched my children wear their style with such unabashed confidence, I realized how much time and energy I spend worrying about what people think of me. How many times have you chosen “safe” instead of “fun” to avoid standing out?.
My children remind me that style is an expression and not an obligation. Now, I’m trying to learn from their example. I have started wearing colours again. I don’t worry about whether something is too bold. If it makes me happy, I wear that. Yes, I have let my daughter apply my makeup a few times. It’s crazy, and I love that.
5. Imagine Everything
The imagination of a child is truly magical. The imagination of a child is truly magical. One moment they are in the living room, the next they are on a pirate’s ship, navigating shark-infested water. A cardboard box can be transformed into a spaceship or a racecar.
I used to think like that. I used to be like that. Over time, I grew out of those things. I had to mature, be realistic, and face “the real world.”
Watching my children play brings back that spark. The power of creativity is evident in their ability to imagine big, escape into stories, and create whole narratives using a few stones and sticks.
In a world where productivity is the norm, imagination is an act of quiet rebellion. It is how we stay optimistic, solve problems, and innovate. It’s not just healthy, but essential to tap into your imagination.
My children have taught me how to do this again.
6. Relentlessly Go for What You Want
Persistence is one of the things that kids excel at. Children are masters at following up. You refused that cookie? In five minutes, they’ll be back. They’ll ask again in five minutes. And again. They will use logic, charm, guilt, and outright tantrums in an attempt to wear you down.
It can be a real pain for parents, but it is also very impressive.
Children know exactly what they want and pursue it with an intensity that adults sometimes lack. Many of us have traded our passion for caution somewhere along the line. Fear, self-doubt, or other people’s opinions can prevent us from following our dreams.
But not children. They think they can be astronauts and superheroes at the same time. They see no limits but only opportunities.
They may not always succeed in their goals, but that does not stop them from trying.
Their perseverance reminds me that “ambition” is not a bad word. Being “too enthusiastic” or “too ambitious” is not a weakness;s, it’s a strength. I’ve begun to channel some of this boldness into my life. I have done things that I would not have considered before. I’m more vocal. I speak up more.
If my children can do it, so can you
It is possible for me to do it.
Conclusion
It is common to portray parenting as a one-way street: we guide and they follow. Anyone who has spent time with children will know that the truth is much more complex and beautiful.
My children are my best teachers. They teach me to be curious, to speak honestly, to enjoy the simple things, and to dream freely. Not only as a parent, but also as a human being, they make me better.
Pay attention if you’re a parent or spend time with kids. All the time, they teach us. They teach us about patience, presence, and passion. What matters.
What if you forget? Stop and smell the flowers.
Would you prefer this to be formatted as a blog post on a platform such as WordPress or Medium, or made into a social media series or a printable piece?
