Sunday 11 October 2009

Whose teaching who?


Not only do my children make me laugh. I realise that I can learn alot from them. Ironically it is things that I knew but as I have grown up and added careers, finances and goals to my life they are things that have been pushed back a bit.

So what is it they reteach me?

Well this morning as I lay in bed waking slowly on a lazy Sunday. They were laying next me. When the conversation went like this...
"Mum your breath smells!" said Sophie (Say what you mean Soph - don't hold back!)
"So does yours first thing in the morning, that's why we brush our teeth in the morning and the evening."
"Harry does my breath smell?" asked Sophie.

They then laughed their way through the next 10 minutes (I am pretty sure it would have been a lot longer but Mummy suggested it wasn't the best game they had ever invented, so could they stop that now) of sitting nose to nose with their mouths wide open smelling each others breath. After every breath they burst into laughter. Okay so I taught them how bacteria is active in your mouth all night to make nasty smells and damage your teeth and my children taught me...

As I think about it they taught me alot.
There is a serious side to our conversation this morning but only children could turn it into a belly lurching, cheek hurting laughter fest. They can see the fun in everything and anything. They do not suffer from the levels of stress we do. They may have an all mighty row at school with their best friend but within the hour its all forgotten and they are running around playing Hannah Montanna or Star wars. How cool would it be if Barack Obama could moan to his mum that the enemies of the world won't share and play nicely then be running around a field laughing and smelling each others breath after half an hour? How great that the row you had with your other half over breakfast is long forgotten by the time you pull on the drive that day. And you run into each others arms for a hug.

Laughter is another thing that children are far better at than us adults. Often chuckling for very little reason. And as the saying goes Laughter is the best medicine. Research shows that children laugh up to 400 times a day and us adults only manage an average 17 times a day!
So before you dismiss this, within a minute of searching my beloved google I learnt laughter is great in so many ways.

It boosts your immune system. Makes you feel less stressed, can relieve pain and can even protect your heart and lower your blood pressure. My husband says its because it releases "those dolphins" but apparently there are no dolphins involved its just endorphins - Who knew?

So its also useful this time of year with the long dreary damp nights drawing in on us to relieve S.A.D.

One website told me that laughing 100 times is the equivalent to 10 minutes on the rowing machine or 15 minutes on an exercise bike! 9http://www.laughteryoga.org/) Now that sure beats a run in the rain!

So learn from children.

Don't take life so seriously.
Live in the moment once in a while - yes set those goals, have aspirations but take the time to just think "I'm here, this is me, this is my life"

And smile, belly laugh, chuckle, grin. and if that feels too much guess what happens when you put a fake smile on your face? Those dolphins are still getting released and the more you fake smile, before long your brain does not know the difference and the genuine article is spread across your face and the benefits felt throughout your body.

So whatever you are doing today - laugh, enjoy the moment and have fun!
(Just to make you laugh the photo is Me and mysidekick laser eyed Stupadog. I was the only one dressed like this all day at our local hospital for charity!)