Children Are Great

I love it when I think I have it all figured out, then something comes along and knocks me off my feet.  

Now that I'm a parent (just a year and a half into this), I feel like it's my responsibility to teach, train, and model for Burl how to behave and interact with people.  There are the normal please and thank-you's, the hello and goodbyes, but also there is another thing that I hope he learns.  I hope that he learns how to love people and how to be loved by people.  Lofty goals for him, especially since I'm still learning how to do that myself.  I try to model for him how to do those things, but also, I try and talk to him about people.  

"Oh, you get to play with your cousins today and it's going to be so much fun!"

"That lady was very nice, wasn't she?"  

Things like that.  Me teaching him.

Then, I realize that kids have a lot to teach me.

We have some family in from France-my husbands family to be exact, but being married to him, I get to claim them as my own.  I absolutely love being with people from other countries.  Most of the time, I'm in their country, experiencing their community, and soaking it up like a sponge.  

Now that they are here, I'm introducing them to the States, and asking them about their town in France.  Trying to develop relationships.  Trying to love on them and them love me back.  There is a bit of a language barrier, but we're trying to work through that.  {Props to Google Translate.}

Recently, we went to a local cafe for drinks and snacks.  We pulled two tables together and gathered around.  Then, my niece and French cousin, 9 and 10, went to sit by themselves.  She doesn't speak French and he doesn't speak English.  But, just like that, they enjoy each other's company.  No words necessary.  Because kids are awesome and they are great at adjusting and going with the flow.

And a loud belch needs no translation.  It's funny no matter where you're from.

And just like that, these kids teach me.  They teach that a. it's good to be able to go with the flow  and b. I don't have it all together and they have a lot to teach me.