Shocking Wisdom from the Mind of a 3-Year-Old
A lesson that will touch your heart.
--
Why do you love me, mama? My 3-year-old asked after I kissed him goodbye and told him I loved him.
At that moment, as I rushed to get out of the house for work, I realized it was the first time he questioned my love for him.
With my heart aching, I paused and decided to sit on the floor next to him. Little did I know his innocent question would lead to a profound realization of his primary love language.
Do you feel loved?
I hugged him tight and started to list why I loved him. He looked at me happy, but his shy smile compelled me to dig deeper. I asked him:
Do you feel that I love you, Isaiah?
His response, “Yes I know you love me,” was comforting, but I yearned to understand more. So, I probed further, “How do you know that I love you?”
Because you help me, Isaiah answered with his tiny baby voice.
I help you? I help you with what? I replied.
Anything, he said. If I need help turning on the light, you help me.
Hmm, OK. How else do you know that I love you? I insisted.
His next response would shape the course of our relationship forever. Through our conversation, I uncovered the power of communication and the importance of paying attention to the subtle cues our children provide.
Who is Isaiah?
Before we delve into the crux of our conversation, let me provide some background on Isaiah. It will help you understand his philosophical meanderings. I promise we’ll return to our conversation shortly.
Isaiah is one of the most talkative 3-year-olds I have ever met and possesses an unparalleled level of verbal expression for a toddler. What captivates me the most is the depth behind his words.
He ponders a lot over what he observes and hears. Then articulates his understanding of it in remarkably perceptive ways.
From the moment he started talking, his dad and I made a conscious effort to foster an environment of open communication. We encouraged him to express himself…
