My greatest teachers

Yvonne Telford - 18 May 16

My daughters have been my greatest teachers. They display back to me the good, the bad and the ugly side of  my character. And because of this, I am constantly working on myself to be a better (not perfect) version of me.

Yesterday, my eight-year-old daughter, Ola, taught me a lesson on kindness, forgiveness and empathy. Her lesson came after I announced to her that she will not be auditioning for a showcase in her school – she was not ready.

Ola is talented. She has a great voice and she can sing but taking part in an audition is not just about talent. Like everything else in life,  to be good enough, you have to put in the time to see the result. On this occasion, Ola was not good. Yesterday, she learnt a life lesson that whatever you want to be good at; you have to put in the time. And, being a child is no excuse not to work hard especially when your parents are willing to support you.

As a mother, telling my own daughter that her act was not good enough was painful .Ola who was upset to hear this agreed with me and went into a silent cry. A silent cry is that cry where no sound is uttered but the tears show the pain. Seeing her this way made me feel awful so I began to cry as well. Ola, who was hurting and should be angry with me, gave me a tight hug and asked me not to cry.

Ola’s response to my emotional state gave me a glimpse into who she is. I have always known that she is emotionally intelligent (not a pushover) but this level of kindness and maturity was a proud moment for me. But also a lesson for me. My daughter taught me that sometimes, I have to put my sufferings on the side and show compassion to someone who might need it more.

Our children teach us lessons all the time. What has your child taught you? Have they made you see something in a different light? I’d love to hear from you.

Yvonne xxx

Yvonne Telford

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