No my child is the smartest in the world

Ok I had to have that title just because this just gets me every time something comes up and parents have to brag. I know as parents we have every right in the world to brag and look at every little achievement as "One small step for man and one giant leap for mankind". Teaching preschool when parents would come into my class they would make comments like "They are going to start school early because they are so advanced" Then come to find out they are advanced in one area and well not doing so hot in other area's. When I would try and tell the parent that they are not getting all of the bench marks they would argue with me and tell me that I am wrong and their child is the smartest child in the history of the world. With which I want to reply "really, if they are so smart why did they have to shove a barkchip all the way up their nose to smell is and not be able to get it out?" But I hold my tongue and do my best to encourage them.

Now before my children were born I knew I would be the best parent on the planet. I had so much experience raising everyone elses children as a nanny and preschool teacher, how hard can this be? Well I am being sarcastic! I knew that I was far from perfect and that I would mess up and I started a savings account that will be just for their therapy when they get older and realized how much I really messed them up. But for now I just keep plodding away seeking God and His wisdom and hope that the good will outweigh the bad in the end. Ok I digress. So I vowed I would never be a parent that was like "Oh did you see that he clapped his hands and he is only 2 months old" or "I swear that she just counted to 10 and didn't need any help, and you know she is only 1 and a half"

All this to say that their is absolutly nothing wrong with bragging about your childs achievements and the milestones that they finally reach. I was excited and couldn't wait to tell my friends that "Ron crawled today" and he is a year. He just scooted on his bottom to get around. I have to admit this is our form of party entertainment. So bragging is good and I feel important to your child to know that "hey my mom is proud of me, and I will just go to therapy for a few years".

All this to say that sometimes we really underestimate how much our children really do understand. Ron was at the top of the stairs and I said "hey you wanna come down? Well we need to change your diaper, there is one on the floor behind you, can you get it?" Ok really I was just talking to him not expecting anything and low and behold he turned around grabbed the diaper that was a few crawls away and brought it back to me. I was a little shocked and excited. I couldn't wait to tell my friends that my child has now been trained like a dog to bring the paper to me. Ok so not really a dog but you catch my drift.

While I feel it is great and even important to brag and get all excited about your childs achievements, we don't have to come across like they are the smartest child in the world. Don't get me wrong I think all children are smart and incredibly talented and we should never short change that. We are all made in the likeness of our Creator and we need to remember that He Does Not Make Any Mistakes!

"There's people here?"

What can I say but my little girl is starting to repeat everything that is said with interest. I will be putting something on the table and she will ask "What is that?" I will say "It is a plate to put our food on" She will then respond with "It's a plate?" and everything is a question.

I have to laugh because one Sunday we were at Costco and we had the kids with us and, if you have been to costco you know that it can get really crowded on Sundays. We were walking along and shopping and stopping at samples and looking at different items. I was over checking something out and daddy was with the kids who were happy to just hang out and look at the people and samples and touch everything they can, and Nancy decides to sit down in the middle of the isle and take a break. Daddy looks at Nancy and says "Nancy you can't sit down in the isle there are people here who are trying to get around you" With that Nancy responded with "There are people here?" We had a great laugh and enjoy these moments when she is learning how her voice communicates to others.