My Small World Vs The Bigger Picture: 4 Life Lessons From Childhood That I’m Teaching My Kids

When you were younger, your parents did what they thought was best for you. They set boundaries, disciplined you as needed, and instilled life values either verbally or by their actions. These life lessons from childhood may not have been understood at the time, but you went along with it and you may have implemented those same practices into your own life and parenting. It’s just the way life works.

Growing up there was a lot I didn’t understand, but now I get the bigger picture and these are the life lessons from childhood that I’ve learned.

Life Lesson #1: There will be things you don’t understand about other people’s beliefs, but respecting them is easier than judging them for not being like you.

Growing up we couldn’t wear pants because of our religion. As Pentecostal believers, women didn’t wear pants. Growing up in Indiana where temperature would get as low as -14 below we had all the long skirts, skorts (skirts w/ shorts attached), and culottes you could imagine and we made it work. Of course, pants would’ve been a welcome wardrobe addition but we honored our beliefs and didn’t push it.

This is one of the crucial life lessons from childhood that has stuck with me.

Life Lesson #2: As a mother, I understand now more than ever that I may not be able to protect my children from the world, but I can be cautious and intentional about who/what they are exposed to.

My mom was very strict and we weren’t allowed to spend the night or go to just anyone’s home. This one was tough because our peers would invite us but we always had to make up an excuse other than “my mom won’t let me” as to why we couldn’t participate. Momma Vicky would always say “I don’t know their parents. I only know me, so I can’t just turn you over and anything can happen to you and I’m not there to save you.”

Life Lesson #3: My mother understood better than us that everyone will not value your life so it is important not to love carelessly, but to be mindful at all times of your surroundings.

To be clear, I am not ashamed of where I come from and am very aware of how blessed I am to have experienced certain environments and not become a victim.

We couldn’t play outside in our neighborhood because crime was high and there were a couple of drive-by shootings in our neighborhood. Thus making it unsafe to play in our front yard. However, we did play outside at my grandma’s house (who lived in a safer neighborhood) while the adults watched us on the porch. Those were some of the most fun times I remember as a child and what I always wanted my children to have as memories.

This is yet another vital one of the life lessons from childhood that I carry with me.

Life Lesson #4: Be present in every moment and grateful for what’s to come.

I used to rush wanting to be older as the youngest child in the family. I even invented the age “eleven-teen” on my 11th birthday because I wanted to be a teenager SOOOOOO badly! Ha!

I would always say, “I can’t wait to do this or that.” and it only took Momma Vicky one time to tell me something I’d never forget. “Don’t rush tomorrow because you could be rushing someone’s life away.” That was such an impactful statement of reality as I realized that my saying what I couldn’t wait to do could actually be speeding up the end of someone else’s time here to enjoy their life and loved ones. I never again questioned why every statement she made about a future event she’d say, “Lords willing” first.

This is one of the life lessons from childhood that has profoundly shaped my outlook on life.

Conclusion

I hope these lessons can bring as much perspective to your life as they have to mine. What I didn’t understand then I am fully able to respect and live from the wisdom of now.

Until next time on the parking lot of life…
- Christian