Biggest Lessons are Caught, Not Taught

🌟Weekly Inspiration🌟

As a parent, I’m always on the lookout for the “teaching moment.” I can get long-winded with my children, about risks, consequences, and what they can learn from challenging situations. My spouse reminds me to say less sometimes. My kids definitely tune me out sometimes.

I love the reminder that in life, often our biggest lessons are “caught,” not “taught.” That sounds true when I think back on my own life. I wonder if my preemptive teaching all the time, is to unconsciously help my children avoid the biggest lessons that are “caught” (which might be more painful, more consequential, have less control over them etc). I like that it reminds me that we all have our big lessons to learn, no escaping that in life. I also appreciate that it takes the pressure off me to teach everything, instill everything, and prevent the painful—of course, I know this rationally, but emotionally, sometimes it feels like a modern parenting burden to prepare them for everything before they grow up.

Ask Yourself:

Were my biggest life lessons caught or taught?
How did you respond to your parents teaching you? If they didn’t, how was that for you?
Do you lecture your kids? How do they respond?
Can we prevent their biggest hurts and lessons? Would we actually want to?
Did your “caught” lessons shape you into the person that you are today?
Do you believe your children are resilient and can weather their own storms?
If not, can you let them practice as much as possible now while under your roof and with your support?

Be well.