Kids - Lesson in Vulnerability

I have two kids, right now, they are six and three years old boys. I see them learn so much from the world, from wife, from each other, from me.

At the same time, through them, I am learning a lot about myself.

For the first time in my life, I have someone that is open to me and whether I like it or not, I have to be vulnerable to them.

What does vulnerablity mean?

To me, it means I can be myself, with no thought of filtering myself for others.

This is natural, because I’m at home.

My kids are also at home with me and are observing everything in the world. They are curious and learning everything they see and hear. Everything is new to them, it’s their first time for everything!

Of course, I am one of the things they observe. They are watching me all the time when they are awake. Through their observations, they are building behaviors directly from their observations of… me!

At the same time, because they are with me all the time, they know exactly when I am not being real with them. They know me at my best and at my worst.

My kids are not shy to call me out when I act in a way that’s annoying to them - they are just direct: “stop it!” or recently when I ask an open question: “blah, blah, blah.”

I realize, when I annoy my kids, there’s a good chance I annoy others.

Through my kids’ observations, their reflecting behavior back at me, and directness - I learn that I must be more vulnerable for everyone, because when I am, the better bond I have with my kids.

And that’s worth it.