Yahoo Lifestyle A retired teacher shares the biggest parenting mistake she saw throughout her career
What do teachers wish parents understood about raising kids? A retired elementary school teacher recently stopped by her daughter’s TikTok account, @elenanico22, to share the single biggest mistake she witnessed parents make during her decades-long career.
“They didn’t enjoy them,” she said, plain and simple.
When prompted to elaborate, she explained, “Kids are fun. You’ve got to enjoy them. They wanted them to be something that — most of us aren’t exactly what other people want us to be — so enjoy the kid you have.” She then turned to her adult daughter, smiling warmly. “I enjoyed you,” she said.
It’s a lesson that seems almost too simple, yet it holds so much weight: Accept your kids for who they are, and love them as they are. Don’t try to change them. Don’t let disappointment or expectations cloud the beauty of the person right in front of you. Just enjoy your children.
Professionals agree: Embracing this advice matters
The comments section of the viral TikTok quickly became a sounding board for childcare professionals, teachers, and parents alike, many echoing the retired teacher’s sentiments.
“This is so true,” @lainers914 shared. “I work in childcare and lots of parents can’t stand their kids. They get so angry when we close. They can’t wait to drop them off and pick them up last minute. Breaks my heart.”
Dr. Karla chimed in saying that: “As a pediatrician, I agree.”
@mary83191 offered an insightful observation: “I call it the picture frame parent. As long as the kid looks like the perfect kid in the frame on their desk & the kid doesn’t mess up big enough to break that image, it’s all good.”
Related: How to incorporate joy into your child’s daily routine
Parents acknowledge the challenges
Not all parents disagreed with the teacher’s perspective, though many were quick to point out the realities of modern parenting.
“Folks are in survival mode,” @thekailapea
wrote.
Another added, “Parents are stressed and they don’t realize how quickly childhood goes by.”
The sentiment is one that many moms and dads can relate to—parenting today often feels like an impossible juggling act. But even amidst the busyness, the teacher’s message serves as a critical reminder: Taking a moment to truly enjoy our kids isn’t just beneficial for them—it’s a gift to ourselves, too.
The takeaway: Enjoy your kids, just as they are
The truth is, kids don’t stay little forever. Those moments of unfiltered joy and curiosity will one day become memories we cling to when the house is quiet. As parents, it’s easy to get caught up in shaping our children into the people we hope they’ll become. But maybe the secret to good parenting lies in letting go of those expectations and simply appreciating the people they already are.
In the end, this retired teacher’s advice is simple yet powerful: Love your kids. Enjoy them. Embrace the chaos, the mess, the laughter, and even the challenges. You’ll never regret it.
Related: 75 activities to cherish while your child is still little
