Presence > Perfection
Lessons My Kids Have Taught Me
Motherhood is often described as the greatest teacher, but no one told me that my kids themselves would be the professors. Every day, between cries, spills, and bedtime snuggles, they manage to teach me something new about life, love, and even myself. Here are a few of the most meaningful lessons I’ve learned from them so far:
1. Patience is a Muscle
I thought I was patient… until I had to wrangle a toddler into a car seat or wait for them to put on socks for fifteen minutes. My kids remind me daily that patience isn’t about waiting silently; it’s about choosing calm over chaos in those little moments.
2. Joy Lives in the Small Things
My oldest can find joy in a cardboard box, a puddle, or simply telling stories using his imagination. My 3-month-old can find joy in a ceiling fan, watching the dog roll around, or listening to his big brother. Watching them has taught me that happiness is found in the tiny, everyday moments we adults often overlook.
3. Perfection Doesn’t Matter
Kids don’t care if dinner is Pinterest-worthy or if the house looks like a magazine spread. They care if you’ll sit on the floor and build block towers with them. They want to help make dinner, even if it is messier and takes longer. Through them, I’ve learned that presence matters more than perfection.
4. Forgiveness Comes Easy
One of the most beautiful lessons: kids forgive fast. A grumpy morning or a raised voice doesn’t stop them from running into your arms later. They’ve taught me that holding grudges only weighs us down—and that love heals quickly when we let it.
5. Time is More Valuable than Things
My kids won’t remember the toys they begged for, but they will remember Saturday mornings playing hide and seek, bedtime stories, and family prayer. They’ve taught me that time, not stuff, is what truly fills their little hearts. I’ve walked out of a store with my oldest after he got upset because I didn’t let him buy something, but he spent the evening talking about how much fun he had shopping with me. It took longer to get through the store, but we got to spend time together.
6. It’s Okay to Be Silly
Somewhere between growing up and paying bills, many of us forget how to be playful. But my kids have reminded me how freeing it feels to sing loudly, dance badly, and laugh until your stomach hurts. Life doesn’t have to be so serious, and with boys, it usually is not!
7. Unconditional Love is Real
Perhaps the most powerful lesson: love doesn’t come with conditions. My kids love me whether I nailed the day or barely survived it. Their love has shown me grace in its purest form—and reminded me to give myself a little more of it, too.
Motherhood has been humbling, exhausting, and beautiful all at once. My kids may be little, but they’ve been some of the greatest teachers I’ll ever have. And while I hope I’m shaping them into kind, resilient humans, I know for sure—they’re shaping me right back.
