In the first few months of our children’s lives, we watch them grow and develop. We’re right there with them, and we don’t miss a single milestone: rolling over on their own, standing up, walking, starting to eat solid foods, feeding themselves, or saying their first word. These are all moments we eagerly await as parents, and we’re so proud to share them with the world when they happen.
As they reach these small milestones, we watch our baby grow. This continues until around 18 months, when they’ve started walking and gotten their first tooth. After that, major changes happen less frequently. Most of us have gone back to work, so we spend less time with our child. At the same time, since we see them every day, we notice the small changes in our child less. Yet these small achievements are very important, and we should cherish them just as much before they start school.
In everyday life, we should notice the milestones they’re reaching, even if they seem so normal to us. Notice the little handprints climbing higher and higher up the patio door, until they reach the doorknob. “Congratulations! You can now open the door by yourself.” A wonderful milestone, but one that will require more supervision.
Flushing the toilet is such a trivial thing for adults—until your child discovers it and won’t let go of it eeeever!!! Wow! He’s grown so much! He’s strong enough and has figured out how it works, but you can’t stand him flushing it 300 times a day. Still, he has to stop! Just think of all the wasted water and the noise…
For each and every one of us, there will be new accomplishments—some the same, some different. Instead of focusing on the negative, let’s focus on the positive. Let’s take a moment. Let’s take two minutes in the evening, sitting on the couch, to look around us and see everything they’ve accomplished in their day, week, or month. The progress they’ve made. How hard they’ve worked to get there. Let’s continue to support them and be proud of them. Let’s not wait until they start school to congratulate them.
Despite the minor (temporary!) inconveniences that these small changes bring, I believe it’s important to focus only on the positive aspects of this situation. Time flies so fast—our days, weeks, and months go by in the blink of an eye! Let’s not get carried away by the negative feelings that might creep in when we see an increasingly dirty window or wasted water. (But let’s take this opportunity to talk to our children about protecting the environment?)
Let’s take the time to see everything they’ve accomplished and all the effort they’ve put in. Let’s congratulate them on all of it! Let’s continue to support them and be proud of them—right from the very beginning!