Our kids have the power to teach us a lot.
They can teach us patience, forgiveness, laughter, and smiles.
They can also teach us how quickly time goes by. They can teach us how to cherish each moment and how to live in the present.
But they also have the power to teach us those not-so-happy things too.
My boys, for example, have not only given me a complete run for my money, but they’ve also taught me some down and dirty stuff.
Some ugly truths and hidden fun my kids can teach me:
1. How to turn dirt into a gourmet meal. Too afraid to dive right in to pure dirt? They can also teach you how to sneak it into meals unnoticed. You’ll only realize it when you bite down and taste that grainy substance.
2. What makes you think to put dog food in your mouth. And then go back for more! Must be easy enough once you get past the smell.
3. Why picking cuts and scabs until they’re pussing and bleeding all over again is fun. I mean really, have you seen the green ooze that can come squirting out?!
4. The joy of sticking any random object into my nostril to see *just* how far it goes. And then the humor of the situation when Mommy turns completely pale and panics that she can’t get the object out.
5. The fun of smearing poop all over the walls. And floor. And furniture. Forget about the smell, you just created beautiful artwork!
6. The thrill of running away from me, as fast as you possibly can, when we are outside, in a parking lot, or in a store. This must have some sort of hidden magic in trying to make me look like I’m kidnapping you.
6. The appeal of bathing with no water in the tub, since the drain stopper screams at you to pull it out as soon as you get in the bathtub. There’s an attraction towards shiny things, I know.
7. The downside of napping. Seriously, who wants to take a nap in the middle of the day and miss out on all the peace and quiet downstairs? #FunSponge
8. The attraction of saying the word “no.” I know as an adult, I tend to hate hearing that word, so maybe saying it has a different appeal.
9. The humor in burping, tooting, and pooping. And the need to share those bodily functions with the world.
10. The excitement of squishing bugs between your bare hands. And then the complete sense of accomplishment as you show everyone what you just did.
This post was written in response to the prompt: 10 lessons your child could teach you.
Kimberly
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Hi, my name is Kimberly! I am a wife of 1 and mom to 4. I'm a social media addict and book lover. This blog is a raw and honest look at life through my eyes. I capture the moments as I fumble through motherhood, marriage, and my new graphic design career. I am sometimes funny, a bit sarcastic, and always sleep deprived.
I can’t help but wonder if my girls will ever get dirty! I have to encourage them to touch mud or dirt or bugs or even puddles of water. They aren’t princesses, but they do hold back from getting mucky.
I have been learning some ugly truths from them, like how girls start to fight by pulling each other’s hair or how they have to try on 10 different outfits before we leave for preschool in the morning
So reading this post made me smile, wondering what would happen if our kids were ever in the same room together! They might just teach these ugly truths to each other, and then we’d be in trouble.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Oh my boys sure could teach your girls a thing or two!
Girls fight ugly too! Hair pulling, scratching… Not fun!
Hee hee!!! Love the list. I learnt from Monkey that great joy can be derived from coloring all over the house with markers. And going without pants is perfectly acceptable and logical given the hot weather. Also? Pulling Mama’s hand is fun.
I mean HAIR, not hand. Gah.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Ah yes, the markers. If your package ever got there you’d have a solution to that problem.
What’s wrong with going without pants?
LOL! So cute and true. Just reading about eating dirt makes me cringe! I was lucky, my kids never did the whole poop-smearing thing. I’m beginning to think they’re the only kids on earth who didn’t!
My kids also remind me to pray. As in, “God, you gave me these kids, now give me the patience to deal with them!!!”
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Actually my husband did the poop smearing thing. Not now, when he was a baby! (I’m sure he’ll love that I just wrote that!)
And yes! He does need to give us the patience!
Poop smearing used to be a big part of our day a few years ago. I have never been so happy to get out of a stage! Bodily functions? Still fun…apparently.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
I don’t think the bodily functions ever get old with them!
Haha…thankfully, my kids haven’t gone to such extremes as eating dirt and dog food and smearing poop all over the wall. Eww and the picking at scabs too. I hope they don’t. But the rest, yes they have. These are really great lessons we can learn from them.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
You are lucky then! Don’t let them read this post to get any ideas!
Hahaha. Great list! Got to LOVE having boys!!
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Oh yeah, they’re fun alright!
This sounds like a deterrent for people to not have kids.
L thinks it’s a good idea to drink straight from the dog’s water bowl. She just leans right over and shoves her face in it. She hasn’t started eating dog food yet. H did that when she was younger.
Good times.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
I don’t understand what goes through their head to make them do that. I cringe at the thought!
I think the only thing here i do is squish bugs with my hands–usually just catch flies.
Stopping by from writers workshop:
http://zemeks.blogspot.com/2011/08/that-was-awkward-writers-workshop.html
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
I can’t catch flies with my hands!
Just the other day I proclaimed to my friends that I am so happy that I’m a mom to a boy. They were both shocked and were all “But you can dress up girls…blah blah” but then I would have never learned that dirt doesn’t hurt anyone
I think if I ever have another child, I’d be happy with another boy.
PS. There can also only be ONE diva in this house and that shall be moi.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Through all the dirt and grime and bugs, boys really are a lot of fun!
And yes, there should only be one diva! You should be the only one being spoiled and pampered!
lol! Number 9 is hilarious, but so true. I don’t have any boys myself, but I know from having brothers. It’s amazing what good and bad things are kids can teach us!
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
It doesn’t change as they get older either!
meant to say “our instead of *are. Sorry, it’s so early here.
Too funny and so true! Especially # 9! Hopefully I never learn about the poop on the walls. I don’t know if anything can prepare me for that lesson!
So very true. My boys have done many of these – especially #2 but with cat food. The #1 reason it’s always in the basement now!
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Ick. So gross!!
I’m surprised you have animals at all, you hater!
Hahaha!! Oh, Kim…all I can say is I KNOW!! Great post
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Really, what are these kids thinking?!?
I have to say the squeezing the scab on totally appeals to me. It’s right up there with tweezing my eyebrows and observing the white root at the end and popping that big white juicy zit, and exclaiming with glee as the puss hits the mirror! Right! Right!
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
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I’m a zit popper too. The juicier, the better!
Hahahaha. This is so great. PJ loves getting dirty. And running away. And pretty much everything else you said.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
These boys and the dirt! Ick!
Please…. please do not tell me that those are some of the things I have to look forward to when my son gets older. Please.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Absolutely not. I actually made this entire list up by myself. None of this ever happened.
In related news? Let me know how the next few years go.
How about the one that it really doesn’t matter how dirty your underwear is, it’s still wearable. I mean, really? Am I the only Mom of boys that has to argue about changing underwear!!??!!
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Ugh, yes! I don’t understand the appeal to that!
and boogers. You forgot about the boogers. Picking them, smearing them, showing them off, eating them, wiping them on the furniture, flinging them…
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
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Now HOW could I have forgotten about the snot?!?
Oh boys… BOYS BOYS BOYS. The grit in my food was enough for me.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
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I don’t understand those testosterone filled creatures!
Twitter: beeswithhoney
says:
I cannot relate because I have all girls! Oh how I wish I had at least one boy … to be able to celebrate in all that your list shared. Boys rock!
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
If you ever want to learn this first hand? I’ll be more than happy to send my boys to your house!
I’ve also learned to appreciate the joys of bathing in a tub with no water. And that drain stoppers are fun.
What I haven’t quite figured out yet is why sending giant handfuls of mulch and dirt down the sliding board at the park is all the rage.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Yes! Why do they do that?? That drives me crazy!
Call me gross, but I find burping, tooting, and pooping to all be enormously satisfying. TMI, I realize.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
It’s all natural, right?
My daughter has just discovered the drain.
Annoying.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
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I hate that. Then it’s like a race to bathe them before the water drains. So frustrating!
Twitter: GalitBreen
says:
Eeeww!
They can be just plain gross sometimes, can’t they?
Again: eewwww!
*Love* your take on the prompt!
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
They really are gross! So different than girls!
Kids are gross.
Also? You can’t say fart, can you?
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Totally gross.
Me? Absolutely. Fart. Fart fart fart. See?
Ugh. I shuddered at this list. I fear the poop smearing. I truly do.
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Use the mask you had on in the HomeHer picture. You’ll thank me later for that.
Funny list. There are a lot of not so happy things we can learn from our kids. #4 made me laugh out loud!
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
My son stuck a raisin so far up there that *I* was crying. I don’t understand the appeal. At all!
Great list! #3 and #8 are my personal faves!
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
I could really do away with the word “no.” It serves no purpose.
I’m so glad your boys are teaching you so much. Obviously, you have been missing out on quite a bit of fun!
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Apparently so. I’ve missed the dirt, blood, puss, and farts. Good times.
What is it with the naps??? Blake is doing everything he can to avoid them and I’m doing everything I can to continue them. THAT’S MY TIME. Gah. Kids!
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Don’t give in. Whatever you do. You’re bigger than him. Don’t let him win!
I’m laughing because I’m already experiencing some of this with Klaw. Great post!
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
I have to laugh, otherwise I’d stab my eyes out!
Boys will be boys, eh? Love this! Although, the poop smearing thing freaks me out. I guess poop happens, so we gotta deal with it
Twitter: KimberlyAMuro
says:
Honestly, the smeared poop freaks me out too. My husband did that. When he was younger though, not now.
I’m afraid my kids will do the same thing!
Twitter: KirstenPiccini
says:
My sons like to teach me that watching the same show over and over and over again is actually quite fun and we can all know that words.
the tooting, burping thing is going on at my house too, hmmm???
BOYS….what would I do without them>>???
#5 – OMG! Total yuck. My girls TALK about poop and toots nonstop, but thank goodness they haven’t discovered the little gem of decorating with it.
Boy can I relate to you, word for word!
My boys could also show any adult how to wrestle a grown human being to the ground and keep them there even though they are smaller, and lighter than you are.
Don’t forget how they like to pass the time trying to stomp on bees and then have a look of disbelieve when they get stung. Ummmm…hello?
I just recently experienced #5. Why did no one ever warn me that this was a possibility?
So funny! And gross! Mine love bugs squishing and an occasional dirt meal too. Ohhh…I love boys.