We could all stand to learn from a 2 year old.
It's the small things that matter. My 2 year old has taught me that. In such a fast paced world, she has forced me to slow down. I have the privilege of having Claire as my boss. She is the youngest of my 4 children, a complete surprise and utter joy. You see, what is so wonderful about this age of 2 and should be remembered is not infact the "terrible twos", but something all together different. Let's call them the "terrific twos". What I have realized is that there is nothing terrible about it at all. Now, you may be thinking to yourself, "Yeah right! You don't know my 2 year old!" No, I don't, but remember, this isn't my first rodeo.
Let me introduce you to a world of wonder. Imagine you have only been on this Earth for 2 short years, everything is new and exciting to you. Claire reminds me of that daily. The little things I would over look, she forces me to re-examine. Who knew that an overturned laundry basket doubles wonderfully as a stage and over-sized building blocks can be your microphone? Apparently, Claire knew it.
When is the last time you stopped to notice a flower growing in a sidewalk or delighted in the sight of the family dog (or dogs in our case) wearing a hat? Spend a day with Claire. You will learn that Great Dane's are really horses for the vertically challenged, kisses are meant for fixing boo-boos, and little feet in over-sized shoes equal big smiles.
What I have decided is the reason this age is labeled as so "terrible" is because we are all so busy with so many other things that we tend not to realize that this little child isn't trying to disobey, aggrivate,or annoy, but instead, learn, explore, and enjoy. For example; I have spent many hours redirecting Claire away from our bookshelves, then one day it hit me. Why not give Claire her own shelf? She wasn't trying to misbehave and get into something that I had told her no so many times before. She just simply wanted to do as the grown-ups around her did. Select a book and sit down to look at it. So instead of yet again scolding her, I took her by the little hand and redirected her to her bookself that holds all of her own books. This pleased her greatly and a battle was solved with 2 winners. We both learned that day.
Claire has also taught me that everyone deserves random hugs and kisses. I can't count the number of times during the day when I will be busy maintaining our household of 6, very busy in my own mind with dishes, laundry, or cooking and realize that I have someone wrapped around my legs. A quick hug and smile, just so I don't forget. I also remember the random times we will be sitting together, watching her favorite show, when all of a sudden, Claire turns her face to mine and gives me a quick kiss and hug. Just today right after that particular scenario happend, I realized that her little hand was wrapped around my thumb and her thumb was tracing the nail of mine. All I could think was, "How content a moment. What a perfect one." Claire loves me. Children love. They love openly and freely and ask nothing in return. They do not judge us on age, appearence, skin color, back ground, ability, or disability. They just love. If encouraged and taught properly, they will continue this radical way of thought that so many of us seem to forget about as we grow older.
What a wonderful world we would live in if we could learn a thing or two from a 2 year old.
I don't know about anyone else, but I really don't find being seen as ordinary, common, or regular, a thing to compliment. I want to be extraordinary and uncommon. You don't remember the "normal" people you happen to meet in this journey of life. You remember the ones who were abnormal. The ones who pushed your way of thinking, snuck ideas into your mind, made you see things in a new and unusual way. 
