We all understood the following life lessons when we were four. Maybe it’s time to relearn them…
When my son Jack was born four years ago, I knew it was my job to teach him how to behave like a grown-up. What I didn’t expect was for him to teach me why it’s sometimes better to act like a kid. Considering they don’t know how to tie their shoelaces yet, four-year-olds have remarkable inherent wisdom.
Sometimes a little bit of wisdom goes a long way, writes madison deputy features, editor and mum, to Jack, Alexandra Carlton
When we meet anyone new, our brains make thousands of instantaneous judgments
Life lesson #1
Everyone is a friend until proven otherwise.
Kids like everyone. Mine marches up to any child who stands still long enough and recites, in one breath, “My names Jack-and-I’m-four-and-a-third-years-old-what’s your name?” Five minutes later they’re scheduling sleepovers,
Adults are more wary. When we meet anyone new, our brains make thousands of instantaneous judgments: how do they look? What do they do? What’s his or her connection to everyone else I know? We hold ourselves back until we reasonably sure the person is more friend than foe
In fact, most people are “friend”. If a stranger seems aloof or unpleasant it rarely has anything to do with you. You’ve got nothing to lose by setting your radar to a friend by default, and adjusting it only if they call you a stupid-head or announce you’re not invited to their party.
Life lessons from a four-year-old
Lif lesson #2
Other people aren’t in a bad mood, I am in a bad mood
Next time you see a kid chuck a tantrum, take a moment to observe the trigger. Often they’re feeding off an adult’s stress. Not being as smart as your average four-year-old, it took me a while to realize that the sound of me having a mini-meltdown over a traffic jam was a surefire way to tip Jack into a monstrous mood. He knows I’m not upset with him. But no matter where they’re directed, tantrums beget tantrums, as the Bible would say if it commented on tantrums.
Learning to curb my occasionally colorful temper around my son has made me more observant of its effects elsewhere. The office printer is a piece of crap, but it won’t improve my colleagues’ day if I kick it.
“I like girls. But some girls make me shy because they’re so cheeky”
Also read: Inventor and YouTuber with hole in chest dies of cancer at 23 years old
Read part 2 here.
