As my son turns two this month, I wanted to pause and reflect on the beautiful lessons he has taught me over the past two years.

We often think of ourselves as the ones teaching our children how to navigate the world. But somewhere between their smiles, and everyday adventures, I have realised how much there is to learn from them, too.

Here are ten things my almost two-year-old has taught me.

1. It's okay to cry and seek help when you're hurt.

There is absolutely no shame in it. When he gets hurt, he cries, runs to us, and seeks comfort. He doesn't pretend to be okay. Perhaps we could all use a little more of that honesty.

2. Curiosity is its own reward.

Curiosity opens up fresh pathways and possibilities that we may never have considered otherwise. Every little thing is an opportunity to explore, investigate, and learn. The world becomes a much more interesting place when you approach it with curiosity.

3. Your age is just a number when it comes to learning.

He already knows 40 elements of the periodic table! Watching him absorb information has reminded me that learning doesn't have an age limit. We don't have to wait until we're older, more qualified, or more prepared to explore something new. OR we don't have to let our age stop us from exploring activities or knowledge meant "for the young".

4. You can have different kinds of relationships with different people.

He comes to his Mom for protection, his Dad for fun, his grandparents for a little extra spoiling, his brothers to learn and play, and his friends to explore and absorb new things.

Every relationship brings something different into our lives. We don't have to expect one person to fulfil every role.

5. Express love freely and openly.

He tells me he loves me almost every time he sees me. There are no games to play, no waiting for the other person to say it first, and no pretending to be less affectionate than he feels.

If you love someone, tell them. Often.

6. If you're not ready to do something, it's okay to say no and pause.

He likes to observe others before jumping into something new. Sometimes he takes his time, watches, and decides when he is ready. What a beautiful reminder that we don't always have to rush ourselves into experiences just because everyone else is doing them.

7. Silliness and jokes should be central themes in our lives.

He is such a silly boy! He finds ways to make us laugh throughout the day. Somewhere along the way, many of us become so serious about life that we forget to have fun. We could all use more laughter, ridiculous jokes, and moments of pure silliness.

8. It's okay to dance even if you don't know how. Sing even if you don't know how. Paint even if you don't know how.

He doesn't wait to become good at something before enjoying it. He simply does it because he has fun doing it. The point of doing something creative isn't always to become better at it. Sometimes, it's simply to enjoy the experience.

9. The location doesn't matter as much as we think.

Take him to the grocery store, and he's happy. Take him to the park, and he's happy. Take him to the library, and he's happy. Everything is an adventure when you're curious and satisfied with the world around you.

Happiness doesn't always require an elaborate plan, an expensive holiday, or a special occasion. Sometimes, it's about being present wherever you are.

10. It's okay to acknowledge when an environment isn't working for you.

He doesn't particularly enjoy crowded environments, and he lets us know when he's had enough. He communicates his discomfort, and we work around it, sometimes leaving earlier than planned. It reminds me that we don't have to push ourselves to stay somewhere just because everyone else seems to be enjoying it. We are allowed to recognize what works for us and communicate what doesn't.

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I know there are countless things he will learn from us as he grows up. But I hope we never become so occupied with teaching him how to live that we forget to learn from him, too.

Children have a beautiful way of experiencing the world before we teach them all the reasons why they shouldn't. I hope we can preserve some of that curiosity, courage, honesty, affection, and silliness as they grow older. And most importantly, I hope he never loses the parts of himself that make him who he is.

Happy almost birthday, my little human. ❤️