Everything I Need to Know...

My kids taught me at the park!
1. Cooperation is good, but a little competition can bring out the best efforts of even the littlest racer. There was a triple wide slide at the park that my kids used to race against each other. Surprisingly, Adrienne was usually the winner.
2. It is important to impress yourself once in a while. Annika climbed to the top of a "rope web" and was quite impressed with herself, and made sure the 12 year old boys climbing up after her got to hear about it.
3. A mom and a dad are both needed. Moms make sure that kids don't do anything that will hurt them. Dads make sure they do. A balance needs to be achieved for kids to experience the best life has to offer.
4. Parents need to know when to let go. Adrienne was trying to climb a ladder to get up to the slide. I was "helping" her to make sure she didn't fall. She kept telling me, "I can do it, mom!". I just kept helping until she finally got mad and told me to let go. When I did, she was able to climb it even better than she could when I was holding on. Letting go brought out the best in her.