We Can Learn From Youths

I was abandoned when I was a child. & never knew the true nurture of a parent, & as a parent there have been times I learned from my children. When your willing to be honest and open possibilities are endless. I believe the experience has given me a perspective that few people ever realize.
My oldest is now 32 years old now, and doing well with her life. I remember bringing her home the 1st time & would waken in the middle of the night to check that she was breathing. I wanted her to be all & have all I never had & pushed (pressured) her to be her best. She took dance, ballet, gymnastics. & swimming lessons as soon as she was old enough to be accepted. She excelled at everything she did & I was a proud dad. We went to a water park when she was 5 & I was pressuring her to try a water slide & she says "Dad I'm scared & don't want to" I said "Try it once you do it you will like it" after a little back & forth bickering she says "Daddy, did you bring me here to have fun?" She was right & it struck me like a light. I said "Yes, and Daddy is wrong, you have fun & I will go sit and watch" I might mention at 3 she was a strong swimmer and at 3 going off high dives, but this day I realized how wrong I was to pressure her. Kid need to have fun while they are kids.
I have learned many lessons from my children, and at times I feel they help raise me. Today my baby, who is now 19 and in college didn't know she was teaching her old dad a lesson, but I was alert & watching & she reminded me of something I had forgotten. She has a job, and is attending a local college, but she wants to improve. She has her guideline and she assertively goes about her business. She looks for that better job every chance she gets & she never lets it interfere with her goal when it doesn't pan out.
I was laid off not long ago & haven't had to look for a job for years, and it is more difficult than riding a bike I assure you. I watched her & was reminded what I need to do.
I have learned some lessons in life from all my children & at times reminded of lessons forgotten.