Since becoming a parent five years ago, I have learned a lot. First, there was the typical how-to-change-a-diaper-and-keep-a-baby-alive, but as my daughter has grown up and my son has joined our family, my learning has deepened. Now, looking back, I can say with certainty that my kids have helped teach me how to be a good person, a better person – both at home and at work.
Here are three important traits I have learned from my children.
1. Patience
Patience isn’t something that comes naturally to me. I often find myself getting impatient when someone does something a different way than how I would do it, or when they take longer than I would. Having small kids has taught me that a little patience goes a long way. For example, asking my daughter to help with a chore and then getting annoyed that she is taking too long isn’t teaching her anything or helping at all.
I have found that taking a deep breath helps me to reset. This is something I practice at home with my kids, as well as at work when I’m feeling overwhelmed or starting to feel my patience wane.
2. Kindness
My 5-year-old daughter soaks up everything we say like a sponge (at least, she does when she is actually listening). So I have become more cognizant than ever of watching what I say and making sure I am kind and non-judgmental to people.
My daughter knows that it’s wrong to bully. It’s up to me and my husband to show her what it means to be kind rather than mean, especially when we see so much of the latter in the news these days. That means helping strangers, being non-judgmental, and occasionally biting my tongue. I have always tried to do these things, but now as a parent, I am much more aware of my actions.
3. Understanding
I often have high expectations for people based on my own expectations for myself, and that’s not fair. Whether it’s finishing a task to the standard I would do it myself or trying to figure out why someone made a certain decision, a little understanding goes a long way. My kids usually do things their own way, and rather than getting annoyed, I try to understand their reasons and guide them along the right path.
As a leader at work, understanding is something I practice daily. It’s not reasonable to expect to be a good leader, coworker, or parent if you lack understanding.
In general, I strive to be a good person, whether at home with my family, out in public, or at work. And while it’s not realistic to expect me (or anyone else) to be patient, kind, and understanding all the time, it’s definitely something to work toward.
What have your kids taught you about being a good person?
