There is a commercial on PBS (side note: Commercials on PBS? What is up with that?), that shows a mom chasing after a blonde little toddler. The mother is musing about how she wants to teach her daughter everything, but then it occurs to her that the baby is the one who is learning so many new things every day, and will probably end up teaching her.
Now, this is a concept that has run rampant through our society, and it is time we put a stop to it. Get over it people. Children are not mystically wise beings, sent to enlighten us. Children are wee little people who are figuring it out. We may learn things in the process of parenting them, but that’s not their doing. Traumatic events should always serve to enlighten one.
No, our kids are not founts of wisdom. They may be founts of something, but it’s usually gross. And they may directly teach us things, but their value is questionable. For example, just today Tre told me that Sawmis is a girl. I did not know that, but I do now. It’s there, taking up valuable brain space that could be better used to…well, better used for anything else. I mean, who the heck is Sawmis, if that’s even how you spell her name?
This morning as I was making breakfast, Max climbed up on the counter to watch. As he sat there he said contemplatively, “You know, jillion is not a real number. You’d think it is, but it’s not.”
Well. There you go.
Raphael taught me just today that if you carefully slip a pad of Post-Its into the disc drive of a computer while your mother is busy, it is impossible to take the entire pad out without leaving at least one piece of paper behind. Come to think of it, that actually is a fairly useful bit of information. I now know not to leave Post-Its by the computer until Raphael leaves for college.
My point here is that kids are just kids. They’re dorking their way through childhood just like we did. While they may come through with the occasional nugget of wisdom (“I kind of like the way people be different”), let’s not expect too much. It’s ok to admit that they’re odd little people with lots to learn. Doesn’t mean we don’t love them and think they’re amazing. Admit it. Most of the things they say make you roll your eyes. You can still be a good parent who respects her kids as human beings. Go ahead. Keep listening, keep enjoying them, but roll your eyes when necessary.
I think that old refrain about how much our kids actually teach us is one of those things people repeat without thinking about it. What they mean is some vague statement about how wonderful their kids are, without sounding arrogant. So if your child is smarter than you, it’s not bragging.
I say, go ahead and sound arrogant. My boys are amazing, and fabulous, and brilliant. But they’re eight, nearly five, and two. I listen to the many things they have to say every day, and respond encouragingly. But if they’re teaching me anything, it’s patience. Sheesh. I also learned, thanks to them, how to get coffee out of the carpet. But then, that’s another story.