The Tiny Teacher in Your Arms
Take a journey with me, if you will, through time. A trip to the late 1990s. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s relationship is the main topic of conversation, probably so people can take a break from the unrest in the Middle East. Choker necklaces, wide-leg pants and neon colors are in. And every day across America, millions tune in with eager anticipation to hear what Oprah Winfrey, guru of American philosophical thought, is reading.
On one such fated day, Oprah, soothing voice of self-care and awareness before it was cool, interviews Mitch Albom about his book Tuesdays with Morrie. As Albom describes his relationship with his unexpected influence, Morrie, we laugh, we cry, we clutch our collective hearts. We ponder, “Who, aside from the obvious – Oprah Winfrey – will be our greatest teacher?”
Okay. Trip is over. Jump back in the time machine. Disregard that bag of 3D Doritos. We’re headed back to 2023. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake are all people talk about, probably so they can take a break from the unrest in the Middle East. Choker necklaces, wide leg pants and neon colors are in.
And, despite the care of Mother Winfrey, many of us have yet to find our teacher. Our Morrie. Our wizened, charming and poetic guide to the complexities of life. Fear not, fellow seekers. Allow me to introduce you to a concept so grand one can only imagine it came from the Oracle of Daytime TV herself: Children can be our greatest teachers.
Learning the Lesson
It was an ordinary day for me. I was sitting by a little girl, not yet 18 months old, watching her transition from the classroom and a tearful wake up, to the outdoor classroom and the beloved sand pit. Through big sniffs and shaky breaths, she took her hands and slowly buried them in the sand, pulling them out slowly. Sand trickled off her as she removed her hands only to slide them once more, fingers spread far apart, back into a cool, grainy void. Her breaths slowed and deepened. Her tearful, shiny eyes began to dry.
Within moments, she was recentered, standing up and joining her peers in exploration. The overwhelming urge to weep had passed. She, a human so new she could not be served raisins or relied upon not to touch hot stoves, had found a way to feel, process and heal in a way most of us adults can only envy. Though little, she was wise.
Children have become, to me, some of my greatest teachers. With every question voiced, every dawdle on what adults think will be a short walk and every reach for a familiar hand, they inspire those who pay attention to live slower, more authentic and more connected lives, unhurried by intangible pressures and unbothered by cumbersome social constructs.
Your Child was Made to Learn
As you study your child and ponder their development, remind yourself that your child was made to learn, has been learning since before they were born and finds you a source of endless enlightenment. You are your child’s first teacher. And, as any good teacher will tell you, we never really stop learning.
Open your mind and heart to seeing the world from your child’s perspective. Observe them and spend time living at their pace. The world is in a big enough hurry. Take a masterclass in being present and curious from your own homegrown expert, and you’ll find your world forever changed.
Alicia Kobilnyk is an Early Childhood Educator who works with young toddlers. She finds joy and inspiration to write in their cheeky shenanigans, as well as those of her three daughters.
