5 Valentine's Day lessons little ones have taught us

Adults are so centered around the things that they have to do that they forget that life doesn't have to be a chore. Even if you are way past childhood, that is the best thing about having kids, you get a second chance at doing all the things you loved as a child. Don't waste the time being boring and not allowing yourself to have fun. It's okay to finger paint with the kids, go down that big water slide you were too afraid to go down when you were younger, and even have a double scoop of ice cream. There should always be room for having fun. Lives get busy with school, work, following the schedule, after school activities, weekend obligations, and everything else that gets in the way. Sometimes, the best time of it all is the time that you get to spend together. Even if you are in the grocery store hunting for grocery items to make that night's dinner, having the little ones with you can make all the difference. Parents may not enjoy every moment they spend with their little ones, like when they are screaming, yelling, and making a huge scene, but they grow up fast and soon you will be wishing that you spent more time with them instead of at work or elsewhere.Even if you simply just learn to cut out a heart from paper, or you are enjoying a cup of coffee, sometimes it is the simple things in life that mean the most. Often times, parents forget this lesson until it has been take away from them. No matter how busy our day may be, there is always time to stop and smell the roses, even if they are inconveniently located right next to the garbage cans. Don't forget to take time out to see the little things that make up the big picture. View the list »
There are some things that parents need to be reminded of and who better to do it than their kids?

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Sometimes, life lessons are things that parents often forget and need a little reminder of the small things in life that make it so great. Your Tango posted reminder on Feb. 1 of some of the small things that parents forget as they get older.

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Sometimes when a parent spends all their time and energy working to make their child's life the best it can be, they often forget about doing things in their own lives or simply begin to feel jaded and fail to see the beauty of some of the little things in life that make it so great.

Here is a list of things that parents learn from their little ones that should be remembered each Valentine's Day, the day of love, if no other day of the year.

View the list
  • Even if you simply just learn to cut out a heart from paper, or you are enjoying a cup of coffee, sometimes it is the simple things in life that mean the most. Often times, parents forget this lesson until it has been take away from them. No matter how busy our day may be, there is always time to stop and smell the roses, even if they are inconveniently located right next to the garbage cans. Don't forget to take time out to see the little things that make up the big picture. 
  • Lives get busy with school, work, following the schedule, after school activities, weekend obligations, and everything else that gets in the way. Sometimes, the best time of it all is the time that you get to spend together. Even if you are in the grocery store hunting for grocery items to make that night's dinner, having the little ones with you can make all the difference. Parents may not enjoy every moment they spend with their little ones, like when they are screaming, yelling, and making a huge scene, but they grow up fast and soon you will be wishing that you spent more time with them instead of at work or elsewhere.
  • Adults are so centered around the things that they have to do that they forget that life doesn't have to be a chore. Even if you are way past childhood, that is the best thing about having kids, you get a second chance at doing all the things you loved as a child. Don't waste the time being boring and not allowing yourself to have fun. It's okay to finger paint with the kids, go down that big water slide you were too afraid to go down when you were younger, and even have a double scoop of ice cream. There should always be room for having fun. 
  • Even if you don't love everyone, there is something in everyone that you love. Always remember that a person is not only defined by the things that they do but the things they love as well. While you may not love them outright, they have qualities that you may be overlooking or not seeing because you are blinded by the behavior and things you don't like. Give people a chance and you will likely see the good in them, or at least in some of their actions. Kids have a better time at doing this because they are generally more open and trusting, as we grow up, we learn to be cynical and less trusting, and often get blindsided by that cynicism to the point that we don't trust anyone. 
  • Nothing feels better than a warm hug whether it's after you have made a mistake or just because. As adults, we fear our personal space and that of others more than we value the meaning of a hug no matter how brief. If you love or appreciate someone, show them with a quick embrace so that they can feel your appreciation and know they are valued. A hug can make a big difference in even the smallest of situations. 
View the list
Suggested by the author:

, Portland Early Childhood Parenting Examiner

Nicole Ramage is a single mother to one awesome little boy. When she isn't teaching him new things, you can find her on the floor playing Legos and cars or coloring with her son. Her and her son love to sword fight with spatulas and build pillow forts with the couch cushions. While she admits...

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