Lessons learned from a kid.

While we teach our children what is right and what is wrong, sometimes our children teach us what should be done and what shouldn’t be.

Recently, by mistake, I broke my three and half year old daughter’s favourite plate. I was feeling so bad and by the time I could pick up the broken pieces my little one came and saw broken pieces of her favourite plate. Obviously, I immediately said sorry to her before she started to create a scene.

To my surprise, she was silent for some time, looked at me and said “it’s ok; we will buy new one from the market, but next time be careful with my things and hold them properly, Ok –“

I was amazed by her behaviour how sensibly she controlled her anxiety, it was highly appreciable. Though mama broke her plate ---- her favorite plate but she didn’t create any fuss about it. ----- Isn’t it quite surprising -------- small kids generally are very possessive about their things. In fact even she is; they are prone to throw tantrums for smallest issues but today she reacted so sensibly and maturely.

Wow!!!! Great ---------- isn’t it?

Anyways I threw that plate in the dustbin and started with some other activity and thought whenever next I will go to market I will definitely buy a beautiful plate for her.

Somehow I got busy and didn’t get the time to go to market and two days later while I was doing some cleaning in the study room, I saw the broken plate hidden in the computer table. I asked her ------ “You picked this plate from the dustbin?” She replied “Yes, I have kept this plate safe till the time you will get new one for me. Once you will buy new one for me then only I will throw this, but till date you haven’t got the new one.”

At that time I realized her greatness, actually the day I broke her plate she definitely felt bad that I have broken her favorite plate but she also sensed feeling of sorry in my eyes and also that I was feeling bad about it, so she was just trying to make me feel comfortable as if nothing big had happened. She didn’t want to embarrass me further. But when I was away without me noticing her she picked the- broken plate and hid it, as her attachment was still with that plate.

The very next day I went to market and bought a plate for her to make her realize I am meeting my commitment; and also that I appreciate her gesture of pardoning me gracefully though actually I was two days late.

Now on I am very careful in handling her smallest things more than mine but one thing I am sure of if ever I commit any mistake my little one knows how to pardon me gracefully; but I don’t want to hurt her feelings even by mistake.

Lessons Learned

1.       Learn to pardon others gracefully.

2.       No need to create fuss and embarrass anyone for the mistakes they are themselves sorry about.

3.       Small things should be ignored rather than creating an unnecessary fuss about them.

4.       Lift the spirits of your loved ones by telling them you love them unconditionally – even if you have been hurt because of their act but you still love them because your relation with them is beyond these materialistic things.

5.       Let the other person know gracefully what would be the right thing to do next time – make your expectation clear to them so that they know what you expect from them otherwise they tend to hurt you again thinking they haven't done anything or it doesn't matter to you

6.        At the same time do not take anyone for granted, if somebody is pardoning you appreciate that gesture and meet your commitments as soon as possible rather than delaying it so that you make them feel that pardoning you was the right thing that person did and you highly appreciate that person for that.

7.       Try not to repeat your mistakes and make others feel that you are in habit of committing mistakes and then saying sorry.

8.       Most Important – be careful in handling other person’s feelings even if they do not react. If someone doesn’t react it doesn’t mean you will take them for granted rather one should appreciate their greatness.