by Jennifer Johnson

Created on: July 25, 2009

As a new parent, my mind raced ahead to the day my child would be older and the many wonderful lessons about life I wanted to teach her. As she grew, though, I began to see how much she had to teach ME.

Of course, there are so many areas our children can benefit from our age and wisdom (sometimes gained at a high price!), but if we fail to see the things they can teach us, we're missing out on a wealth of information.

The most important thing my child has taught me is how to truly *live* life - a lesson, admittedly, I haven't fully mastered.

My own childhood seems so distant that I suppose I fall into the trap of believing I've always been the way I am today. While many basic aspects of my personality have been unchanged for many years - for better or worse! - while watching my child learn and grow, I discovered that a very basic part of me was DRASTICALLY different as a child.

Like many adults, I'd become obsessed with what other people thought of me. I didn't realize how many of my thoughts and actions were dictated by what others thought or expected of me, rather than what *I* truly felt and wanted for my life. I'd also lost the ability to just be present in the moment - not thinking, planning, worrying about what would happen in the future.

My daughter amazes me with how spontaneous and expressive she can be. When she's happy, she laughs; when she's sad, she cries. She loves me and tells me so at every opportunity. She means it sincerely when she apologizes. She realizes that everyone falls and it's OK, you just pick yourself up and get back in the game. She totally loses herself in play and lets her imagination run wild.

How many of us as adults have forgotten or suppressed these traits?

Have you ever been overjoyed to see someone, yet 'played it cool' to avoid looking foolish or out of fear the feeling wouldn't be reciprocated? Have you ever experienced pain that you didn't allow yourself to feel fully because you had to 'keep going' or you told yourself it wasn't that big a deal anyway? Almost all adults know the pain and regret that comes from not telling loved ones how you feel - unfortunately, sometimes this regret comes too late. I'm quite sure the majority of us also know how difficult it is to say two simple words: "I'm sorry" - and really mean them from the bottom of your heart. And, if you're like me, you know how hard it is to start over again after failure. It's much safer just to sit on the sidelines - but from there, you're only watching life pass you by.

Life wasn't meant to be 'watched', though; it was meant to be lived. Sometimes, we would all benefit from being more childlike and not worrying about what others think of us or planning our future to the most minute detail. We may have forgotten what it's like to lose ourselves in the moment and just BE.

So the next time your child giggles with delight or runs in the sun with arms spread wide pretending to fly and doesn't give a thought in the world to who's watching or what they might think - really look *and learn*. You're their most important teacher, but you just may discover that your child is one of your best teachers as well.

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