From grandma (and great aunt) with love:
What I wish I'd seen and understood when I was raising my kid
I had no clue!
Watching my daughter and nephew raise their toddlers is making me see some things so differently!
Child enrichment: Music classes, swimming lessons, you name it—they’re doing it. I admire their dedication.
I’m reminded of what it was like for me when I was raising my kid.
No time for my own interests, too much to do meeting her needs and taking her to the activities that would enrich her life. My daughter and nephew are doing a lot of the same.
But here’s what I’m seeing that I never saw before: Your interests and their interests: it’s not a binary. It’s not either/or!
You don’t have to choose between enriching your child’s life and enriching your own.
And I’ve learned that there’s a price you pay when you defer what you love and care about.
Your kid sees what you’re up to when you put your passions aside. They also see what you’re up to when you include yourself in your priorities and activities. Seeing you make time for what you love sets a powerful example.
You’re your kid’s hero, role model.
Your kids absorb everything about you: your happiness, your stress level, your passions, your interests, and your curiosities. Your kids are sponges and what they’re absorbing is you.
Please express and demonstrate your own interests, desires, and passions while nurturing your kids. Make it easy for them to watch you doing what you love. Make it easy for them to stand next to you and help you do what you’re doing. There is so much magic here!
I’ve discovered that making a movement, sound, or gesture I enjoy and then pausing often gets the grand-babies mirroring me. They’re little copycat artists, sometimes riffing and improvising on what I did. Before they can even speak, they understand so much more than we give them credit for. I’ve asked my nonverbal grandchild to grab something or put something away, and boom—they did it. No words needed.
So, what’s the practical takeaway here?
What do you love to do? Are you a cook? Get your kid a safe ladder to stand on and have them right there next to you, handling what they can. (They can handle a lot.)
They’re learning every minute, even if you don’t see it. Do you like to draw? Get your art supplies out and create side by side with your little one. They’re soaking it all up.
Include your passions as an integral part of your parenting, creating a vibrant, enriching environment for both you and your child.
Living your best life—being curious, active, involved, passionate, and productive—isn’t just good for you. It’s paving the way for your child to live their best life too.
Please don’t wait until your kids are in college to take up that hobby or pursue that passion. Dive in now, and bring them along for the ride.
Living an engaged, passionate life benefits the whole family.
It creates a nurturing, enriching environment where everyone can thrive. So, let’s stop deferring our passions. Our kids—and our own well-being—deserve better.
Rose, Matt, and all you young parents: You’re already doing such a fantastic job. I hope this insight helps make life even more rewarding for both you and your kids.
I'd love to hear from you and what you’re learning from your kids and theirs. Join the community.
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