“Do the things that interest you and do them with all your heart.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

With her husband out of town for work, our daughter came to visit last weekend and brought her kids. A few nieces and nephews and their kids were in town so it was good timing. We had a blast with her five-year-old and two-year-old. We took multiple trips to Target, bought books and Mario playsets, played ping pong, watched Bubble Guppies on TV, visited the little ice cream shop around the corner, gave bubble baths, and had lots of snuggle time.

Both kids are hysterical, but this time the two-year-old’s antics in particular had us in stitches. She’s a character—full of energy and opinions, just like her mama was at her age. My daughter remarked that we could all learn some lessons from her little one’s confidence and the unabashed ways she communicates her likes and dislikes. Here are a few life lessons she reminded us of:

Be yourself.
Some days it’s covering herself in stickers. Others, it’s a “no pants” party of one.

Express your feelings.
She pouts, she cries, she gets distracted, she laughs, all in the space of minutes.

Be affectionate.
Her kisses and big squeezy hugs are my favorite.

Communicate your needs.
This girl knows what she wants. Whether it’s a binky, a blanket, or to go upstairs, she’s not afraid to use her words to let us know.

Be enthusiastic.
Her new favorite response is an emphatic “Yeah!” to almost everything we ask her.

Make new friends.
Everyone she meets is her new best friend.

Try new things.
This weekend it was climbing out of the Pack ‘n Play for the first time, terrifying Grammie who was on duty.

Pick yourself up and brush yourself off.
The fact that she stumbles a lot does not concern her. She puts everyone’s fears to rest by quickly exclaiming “I’m okay!”

Rest when you’re tired.
Her energy seems boundless until she reaches her limit, and then she zonks out in short order.

Treat yourself.
From banana bread to hot mini-donuts to Pap’s Cheetos, she heartily enjoys her snacks.

Appreciate the small things.
Every small item brings immense joy (“A box!” “Bubbles!”).

Go outside and play!
“Outside” was one of her first words, and one she uses daily as she dons her purple rain boots.

~~~

My favorite thing about toddlers is how blissfully uninhibited they are. In Atlas of the Heart, Brené Brown says her research shows that “Embarrassment takes years to develop, and its emerging coincides with the self-conscious ability to understand what others may be thinking of us.” In other words, the moment we realize that others are looking at us and are forming opinions about us and our behavior.

Our little one has not yet learned to be a people pleaser. Or to change herself to meet the world’s expectations. Or to squelch her excitement so she doesn’t appear to be “too much.”

This sweet meditation by Lorna Byrne reminds us about the energy that comes with truly being ourselves and embracing life as toddlers do, without a care in the world.

It was good to experience a childlike sense of wonder with the kids this weekend. How easily we forget to live in the moment and enjoy simple pleasures.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for my nap.

Affectionately,

Elaine