The traditional perspective was that children should be seen but not heard, meaning children are supposedly lesser people because they are young and inexperienced. Watching children these days I am occasionally wondering whether some parents are now sending the exact opposite message by permitting their children just about anything, showering them with material stuff, failing to teach them respect and social manners, worshipping them endlessly and providing no gauge or boundaries - basically granting them adult style freedom. But I am headed elsewhere yet. I believe that we can actually learn from our children even though they are indeed much younger and have less life experience (on the surface).

First of all, especially young children react in a socially unfiltered way, they speak truthfully and to the point (refer to The Emperor's New Clothes) without trying to spare people's feelings. Secondly, from a spiritual perspective our children are our peers because as spirit beings (in a material body) we are all equal. We could go further yet, into the idea of reincarnation. Here we get into potential role reversals and the possibility that your child might have been your parent, mentor or partner in another lifetime. Intriguing.

When my daughter was 10 we had a deep and spiritual conversation about defining health and healing and how it was more a mental than a physical thing, and in conclusion she burst out "we'll then no one is healthy, not even a doctor." Children can be downright wise. Next time your child says something that upsets or irritates you at first blush, do listen, completely, and try to see their side, where they are coming from. Often we think we know better, but sometimes they actually do.