Four Lessons I've Learned from Raising a Wild Child

My child has been wild since she came into this world. Wild hair, wild personality, and a wild ride from her birth story to her first breath to her first day of playschool. Now, with just over 2 months until her 3rd birthday, I've been thinking about her spirited nature, her continued displeasure with being told it's time for bed, her love for the outdoors, our dog, and Paw Patrol. I've been reflecting on who she has become and who she has made me. These are just some of the lessons from my greatest teacher, my favourite tiny human, and the funniest person I've ever met.
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Patience is everything and not always easy

Somedays, it seems like my daughter's only mission in life is to find my last nerve and to get all up on it. From what I've seen, that's basically a toddler's M.O. I was a high school teacher for 5 years and no one has ever tested my patience more than the person I gave birth to.

Ah, but being a patient parent ain't always easy, is it? I'm learning lessons in self-control every single day and here is what I now know. 

• Taking care of yourself helps you to be more patient with your little people. If you are forever leaving yourself off your to-do list, you are bound to be more frustrated and easy to upset. When I make myself a priority, I am a calmer, more understanding parent. 
• Take pictures of the messy moments. One time, I walked in on my daughter completely covered in diaper cream. That was not an easy clean-up, especially when I was stressed out with about a million other things to take care of. But, I grabbed my phone and snapped a picture, capturing just a little bit of humour from the mess, while also allowing me to step back for a second from my frustration.
• Remember that when your kids are losing their minds, they aren't trying to make you lose yours. Your children are not purposefully giving you a hard time. Your children are having a hard time. That shift in perspective was everything for me. Now, when she's having a tantrum in the check-out aisle over Kinder Surprise eggs (curse you, kids on YouTube with your surprise egg openings), I remember that her little brain can't process things the way that I can and I (attempt to) remain calm while I purchase our groceries. 

There is Joy in Everything

My wild child is a forever finder of joy. She is more than willing to walk up to another shy child and pull them out of their shell. She loves nothing more than to wash the dishes with the older kids. She bursts into tears when she doesn't get to kiss her daddy good-bye when he leaves for work. 

She brings so much light into the lives of everyone who meets her and I am thankful to be witness to the laughter and love she brings everywhere she goes. 
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Let it Go, Let it Go

I swear, Olivia is the person who taught me this one, not the Frozen movie and, honestly, it's a lesson I'm still working on learning. You see, in our relationship, I am the worrier and my husband is the one who never seems to stress. Letting things go isn't very easy for me. 

But my spirited wild child has made me realize that some things aren't worth worrying about. So, when she wants to dress herself (or feed herself or wash herself or read her bedtime story herself or do pretty much anything by herself) I am working on going with the flow. She might look a little out there in her choice of clothes, but I'm pretty sure it's karma for my own actions as a child. When she fights bedtime and I spend an hour in her room waiting for her to fall asleep, I focus on the fact that these days are numbered and she'll be grown all too soon. 

When I am faced with worries, I ask myself, "Will this matter tomorrow? In 6 months? In 10 years?" If the answer is no - I let it go.

Find Gratitude in Every Day

When my patience has failed me and my worries don't disappear as easily as I might hope they would, I have learned that gratitude is the perfect remedy to ground myself in the present moment and find the good in even the hardest days. Now, every night when I put her to bed, especially if she's been especially wild, I tell her (and the Universe) everything I am thankful for, about her, about our life. 

​She has taught me that there is always, always something to be grateful for.
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What is the biggest lesson you've learned from your child?