Two things I have learned from my kids

We always talk about learning from other adults, but children can teach us a thing or two as well. I've learned a lot from my boys...here are two things I learned this week.

Zach :: Everybody needs down time
Aside from patience, I have learned that everyone needs quiet time, especially at the end of the day. When Zach arrives home from school, he does not like to talk. He walks in (he will say hi, and maybe ask for a snack), hangs up his backpack, takes off his shoes and just wants to "be."

Sometimes he'll tell me about his day. But more often than not, he will sit at the kitchen table and color or write, sometimes work on one of the 10 Lego creations currently under construction, or look at a magazine or book. Quietly.

Do not pepper him with questions:
"How was your day?"
"Did you have computer lab?"
"Who did you play with at recess?"
"What did you have for lunch?"

He will shut down and reply with the robotic "I don't know" or "I can't remember."

Think about it as a parent. When you arrive home after being gone all day and your children run to you and hang all over you...

"What are we doing now?"
"What are we having for dinner?"
"Tomorrow I have to bring this and this, so can we go to the store now?"

Or you significant other greets you at the door:
"You need to fix this."
"Will you be home Friday night? I made plans with the girls that night."
"Both boys need glasses."

It bugs me when that happens. I just need a few minutes to unwind, and then I will be ready to talk.

Adam :: Practice makes perfect
Ah Adam, my little perfectionist. Every week we practice spelling words. In his 2nd grade class, if you spell all the words correctly on Wednesday's test, the teacher sends home "Sharp Spellers' Challenge Words" to practice for Friday.

And these certainly are challenging. This week's words were echolocation, hibernation, mammalogist and nocturnal, just to name a few. These words were harder than usual, indicated by the words "VERY DIFFICULT" at the top of the list.

Adam practiced these words about six or seven times in two days. Normally it takes about three tries for him to get all the words spelled correctly.

If this were me, I would have tried maybe two times, and then said "good enough." These are extra credit words, I already aced the "regular" test.

Sometimes in the real world "good enough" doesn't cut it. Your work has to be ALL right, or it doesn't matter. Take the time to learn it, just like Adam.

Sounds like somebody else I know with the last name Dyer, first initial S...and it's not me.