How often do you actually stop and remember what it was like to be a kid?
Do you remember that feeling of being on the top of the world when your mom would fix your favorite birthday cake or when your dad would carry you around on his shoulders and play horse? Do you also remember how painful it was the times you were yelled at or treated like your feelings didn’t matter because you were too little to have a say?
Regardless of how far removed from childhood we may be, we all used to be kids once. But if we’re not careful, it’s really easy as an adult to forget what it was once like to be a child. It’s so easy to get caught up in the adult stuff of life, and before you know it, we forget just how big some of the little things are in a child’s eyes.
No matter how old we get, may we never forget how to see life through the eyes of our children.
Here are 6 things (I’m sure there could be many more) that I think every child unconsciously hopes their parents never forget about being a kid:
1. The dark really is scary (because there’s monsters in the closet)
Every night after tucking in my youngest son, Shane, and doing the piggy toes, he always says, “Please leave the bathroom light on, Daddy.” And I always try to be sensitive to the fact that being scared of the dark is a real, legitimate fear for a child. I can still remember as a little boy being scared at night that a lion was going to jump through my bedroom window.
While our children’s fears may be unfounded, they’re still very real to them, and a little bit of compassion and understanding can go a long way. Even though we may be far removed from the days of being scared of the dark at night, may we never forget that feeling of when we used to be as children.
2. The tooth fairy really is real (no matter what anybody else says)
Not all fairy tales are worth believing in, but I think that every child deserves to be able to believe in the tooth fairy. 🙂 Even our two oldest, who know better, still believe in the tooth fairy. (Especially if it means they get an extra buck or two underneath their pillow at night.)
3. Dandelions are the prettiest flowers (because they’re picked with the most love)
No doubt every parent at some time has had their child approach them with a handful of weeds, and with a proud smile saying, “Look what I picked for you!” May we learn to never toss aside the “weeds” that our kids bring to us, because apparently, they thought they were beautiful, which made them think of us.
Put them in a flower jar or make them the centerpiece of your kitchen table, and watch how those “flowers” placed in a place of prominence may very well speak love to your child even more than they were used to speak love to you. How sweet and precious is that handful of colorful weeds – the prettiest flowers of all.
4. The good guys always beat the bad guys (because that’s just how it’s supposed to work)
Good always triumphs over evil… in a child’s world. Even the youngest of kids knows that’s how it’s supposed to work. In the harsh world of reality, where the good guys don’t always win, may we never lose sight of the purity of a child’s perspective, and fan their flame for fighting for the right. Such a passion and drive for the good and the right is something they’ll definitely need in the future.
5. Dreams are never too big (they’re just sometimes hard to reach)
Anything is possible when you’re a kid… even the impossible! May we never forget that. Why not just keep that mindset all throughout life? I think if we did, it would help us to go places and do things we’d otherwise think we could never accomplish. If we expect our kids to dream big, don’t you think they ought to see us doing it every once in a while? When’s the last time your kids saw you shooting for the stars?
6. God loves everybody the same (no matter who they are)
Everyone is created by God. Everyone is loved by God. No exclusions. That’s how it’s written in a kid’s handbook. That’s how it’s written in God’s handbook. And that’s how it should be written in ours. May our children learn by watching us that God’s love to a lost and dying world around us is a reality in our daily life. God’s love is unconditional, and ours should be as well. May our kids know that it’s not just words we say, it’s what we do.
Maybe there’s more than one reason why Jesus told us in the Scriptures to “become like little children” in Matthew 18:3. Of course, the main reason is because no one can be saved unless they come to Christ in childlike faith. But I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more benefits that can come for both us and our families if we never forget what it’s like to be a kid.
Matthew 18:3-4 Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Let’s be honest, the older we get, the easier it becomes for us to forget what it was really like to be a child. What kind of little things have you forgotten that are big things your kids are counting on you to remember for their sake?
What other things do you think should be added to this list?
