If you don’t know who Suleika Jaouad is, get to know her! I discovered her through, I think, a teacher writer friend during the pandemic and since then have subscribed to her weekly emails and kept up with her journey.
Anyway, in her last installment, the guest contributor poses the following prompt –
Write about a time a child taught you about, or reminded you of, something important in life.
Maggie Doyne
I started jotting down some ideas, and my 3.5 year old turned out to be the spotlight of my brainstorming (surprise, surprise). Elías has a superpower of making me smile so wide it hurts.
For awhile there, we worried about his language development, but he is blossoming before our eyes. It feels he’s teaching me something new or reminding me of a truth nearly every day. Some examples…
“I’m CHORRY, I’m chorry, I’m chorry.”
His ability to apologize without a bruised ego or hurt pride is unparalleled.
“I love you, mommy.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
*three minutes later*
“I love you, mommy.”
He reminds me how often we need to hear the words “I love you.”
“I like to eat eat eat aaaaaples and uhnahnuhs.”
He reminds me that sometimes we just need to belt out a good song…for no reason. At any time.
“Mommy? You not talking because yew mouth hurts?” (post surgery)
“Mhhm”
“Mm…gimme yew hand. It’s ok.”
He reminds me how important physical presence is; how healing touch can be.
“Look at me, look at me!!”
He reminds me to pay attention. He reminds me that what he values in that very moment is the most important thing in the world. And unless I’m in a dire situation, it really is the most important thing in the world.
The pure wisdom of a three year old stuns me often. I’m eternally grateful for mijo and know I have to treasure this time.
Maggie ends beautifully with –
Children have been my greatest teachers. They are anchored in the present, in wonder. There are so many times I wish I could just bottle up the joy, the innocence, the purity, the sanctity of children. That’s what it is—children feel sacred to me. They’re our world’s most unending promise.
britt escribe 
Wonderful. Thank you for sharing. Our best wishes to you all.
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Suleika Jaouad is amazing. She has so much strength in the face of unbearable challenges. And Mr. Elías is quite the teacher. May he always be this wise.
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Love these quotes and your lessons from your son. How wonderful that you are chronicling these moments.
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What I love most about slicing is being able to write about moments with my children that I may otherwise let slip by. Time with them is so special and they are great reminders of what is most important.
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They have so much to teach us. One of my biggest regrets is not recording enough of the things my kids said when they were young.
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What a sweet post. Yes, children have so much to teach us! And thank you for introducing us to a new resource!
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We often just half-listen to children because, well, they are children. But oh what wisdom comes from the mouths of babes.
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Beautiful reminders about the importance of children and how the human touch can heal. Thank you!
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I definitely connect to the idea that kids bring us back into the moment. If only we could live that way throughout life, without all the worry of things to come.
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I just love this slice! Beautifully written. I love SJ as well! And appreciate the reminder to look to my own little boys for some important life lessons.
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