Life Lessons I've Learned From My 18 Month Old Son

I think all parents have this Eureka moment. As I struggle to figure out the needs and wants of my son, do all I can to care and educate him in the best way, I discover with awe how much I have to learn from him.

The parenting job is not easy, but it is very pleasant; it's filled with challenges, but rewards and satisfactions as well. The process of parenting is a two way street: it is not just the children that learn from the parents, but the parents learn from their children as well.

Below are a few priceless life lessons I've had the pleasure to learn from my filled with life 18 months old boy.

1. How to enjoy every life moment

I knew long before becoming a parent about the 'Carpe Diem' motto, and at different stages, I tried to live by it the best I could. I would go out with friends, have fun, take part in various activities. My son taught me to enjoy life in a different way.
Watching him be mesmerized for minutes in a row at that ant climbing the fence, stopping in the park to see how and why that flower moves when the wind blows, the joy on his face when I let him run barefoot in a field of grass or in a puddle of water, I've learned to appreciate more the little joys of life we often take for granted. The eyes of a child see beauty where an adult sees the ordinary. 

2. Wake up with a smile on your face

Almost every time my little boy wakes up and looks at me, he gives me this huge smile. I like to think it's because he's happy to see me again, he's rested and ready for a new round of life. I want to wake up with that happiness and excitement, not to dread going to work or thinking about the housework I have to do. Very simply, to be happy a new day is here and I will have the privilege to discover its surprises and pleasures as it unfolds.

3. When you want something, go for it with everything you've got

If my son sees me eating an apple and decides he wants that, he will run to me, try to grab the apple, bring me down, cry if I hide it but keep searching for it, until he gets it. He may take a bite and decide it's not his cup of tea, but he would have gotten what he wanted.
I want to have that burning desire. To reach for my dreams with everything I have (time, energy, passion), despite all the challenges facing me. 

4. Be more patient and understanding

Since I'm a father, I've become more patient and understanding. Before, I used to rush through things and be more selfish but since I have a boy to raise, the way I see the world has changed. I'll come home exhausted after a day at work, just wanting to put my feet up, crack open a beer, and watch some TV. But I know I have a filled with life, energized, curious, excited little boy waiting for me. When I open that door, I have all the time in the world for his little adventures and occupations.