What Life UNteaches You

"A toddler will naturally pick up something correctly." I was told this the other day and ever since, I have observed the toddlers in my care. They have more than heavy lifting figured out right.

I take care of a one-and-a-half year old that is the definition of perpetual motion. She sits still for no more than one second at a time.

She has learned to climb onto the couch. The couch is half of her height. She has to lift her leg up to the height of her belly button, hoist her leg onto the couch, then pull herself up with her arms and upper body muscles. She will climb up onto the couch. Sit for one second. Then crawl across the couch. Then sit another millisecond. Then she will get off the couch. There is no limit to the amount of times that she will do this throughout the day.

If I had to work that hard to sit on the couch, I would undoubtedly take a well deserved rest after I achieved my goal (that is, if I didn't decide it was easier just to sit on the floor). If I moved one-eighth as much as this little dynamo moves in a day, I would be more fit than I have been most of my life!

She does nothing half way. If she wants to play with some toys, she empties the shelf. I have named hurricanes after her. Oh, to be so ambitious! To me, an empty shelf equals a floor full of stuff to be cleaned up and put away. To her, it means she has an empty shelf to play in.

If she is full, she simply stops eating. That's it. The end. If you give her more food she smushes it, ignores it or it ends up on the floor. Full is full. It looks so simple when she does it. Why do we grow up to feel we must eat that which is set before us or if we really like something, we eat too much?

She makes her own fun and is a trail blazer. Take her outside and her snow pants help her slide down the snow hills. She lands flat on her back and to get up, she must roll over on her side, brace her hands and feet and she propels herself upwards (butt first). It is a full body work out. When she gets tired, she just lays there. And waits. She doesn't cry. She doesn't complain. She knows she will be rescued. She has complete and utter faith in the world and those who care for her.

She has learned how wonderful it feels to be hugged. When the mood strikes her, she will just turn to the person she would like to hug her ... and asks for a hug. She leans in and savors the hug. She doesn't necessarily hug back, but you don't realize it. You feel loved because she asks for your affection.

She is excited to arrive in the mornings and can't wait to get her boots off so that she can get the day started. She is happy to see us and she cheerfully says good bye to her parents ... and when they arrive at the end of the day, she is just as happy to leave us and greets her parents with loving enthusiasm.

She utilizes every moment of her day. If she needs or wants something, she lets you know what you could do to make her happier ("Up??"). I have told her often, "Just relax ... you have your entire life ahead of you ... just relax and enjoy the moment", because sometimes it is as if she just wants to have it 'all' and she has no idea where to begin.

She doesn't waste a moment of her waking hours.

If you want to do something right, watch what a toddler does. They have got it right.