968 – Remember, First They Need to Learn
There seems to be a disconnect from the time a child is praised when they burp. Then crawl. Then walk. Then… then… then.
Then, at some point the learning seems to no longer be enough. Knocking over their cup. Coloring on the wall. Knocking over your cup. Spilling a box of cereal on the floor.
At some point we treat every “achievement” as if they discovered the cure for… well, everything, every time they do the thing. Then, it turns… wait, better said: Then we turn.
The mistakes are pointed out. The frustration comes out. “Don’t you know better” bounce off walls. “How could you?” Echo through halls. Forgetting what was learned… by the parent. Sometimes children do not know better. Sometimes they do. Yet, in these moments they they are just as stunned or confused as you. Their reaction depends on your reaction.
Learning doesn’t stop after they crawl, or talk, or walk. Hopefully, they are taught learning never stops. Children go from pedestal to jail in the blink of an eye. Children learn through example. Children learn by doing. Children learn by repeating. Children learn. And never stop. Until they are taught or told, or discouraged to stop learning.
Patience (see multiple previous posts). Know children are learning. Know children learn from doing. Know children need guidance and patience and kindness. More than they need mistakes pointed out. This is a great starting point. For them to have successes they need to fail, and try, and do. Then fail, and try and do again. Then fail, and try and do again. And again. And again.
So do you.
A Better Father 