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Having worked in the child-care industry for many years prior to becoming a parent, I thought I was quite the expert on raising children. I expected to teach my children so many things and to do it so well. And I have but what I did not expect was how much I would learn from them. Here is a humorous look at the serious lessons I, as a parent have learned from my children throughout the years.

My daughter, at age 3 was due her immunizations. I carefully explained to her the reason for the visit to the Health Department and what she should expect. "It won't hurt. It will just feel like a little pinch." I told her, feeling sure this would calm any fears she may have. She had the immunizations and everything seemed to go very well. I walked out a proud parent, having taken the proper steps to ensure this positive experience. Oh, was I ever proud when the nurses expressed "what an exceptionally good little girl" my daughter had been. Until later that afternoon when she marched up to me with a look of determination on her face and pinched my arm. I grabbed my arm and exclaimed, "That hurt!" She retorted, "It was just a little pinch."

Lesson #1 Just be honest with your children. If it is going to hurt, tell them it is going to hurt. Inevitably, they will face pain in life. Do not sugar-coat it. Prepare them for it. In addition, if a parent is honest with their children, will not the children be more likely to learn to be honest in return?

It was on a Sunday morning while I was getting ready for church. As I stood in front of the mirror applying my makeup, my then two year old son stood in the doorway. He watched for a few minutes and then said, "Hey mommy. You're starting to look pretty."

Lesson #2 A mother need not think more highly of herself than she ought.

Lesson #3 Be prepared to accept your children's brutal honesty.

My youngest son loved to take a bath when he was just a small child. He would often ask at the oddest hours, "Can I take a bathtub?" A bathtub, as he called it. During a Sunday evening worship service at our church, a friend of ours was to be baptized. My husband and I had our three children sitting in the pew next to us awaiting the special occasion. As the pastor began to descend into the baptismal pool, my son exclaimed in an excitedly loud voice, "Why is Bro. Pugh taking a bathtub? I wanna take a bathtub with Bro. Pugh!" My husband tried to quietly explain that he was not taking a bath. He was performing a baptism. My son did not understand. Nor

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