Observing our infants as they engage in life can bring profound spiritual lessons. Daily occurrences transform from the simple and mundane to the complex and intricate. We work diligently to teach our children how to live and behave in the world, but the true lessons lie in what we acquire from being witness to their every action.

Here are some of my favorites acquired from my 16-month old daughter:

Don’t cry over spilled peas. Life will hand you many messes. A wet paper towel can clean most of them up in a jiffy.

If you scream loud enough and long enough, someone will answer.

Explore the world as though you are seeing it for the first time. Each moment is a new moment in life and you have the opportunity to seize it or let it pass you by.

It takes persistence to master a task. Whether it’s learning to hold a spoon or learning to be awake through life, success takes persistence. And practice is progress. And mindfulness matters.

Balance is hard. Unless you have a big rump like my third born son, it’s not so easy to maintain balance. You have to work at it, keep trying and changing positions, and make adjustments when necessary.

If you can laugh, you stop crying. We have to take any event that is void of joy and transform it into something that will enable us to grow.

Explore. There are always new things to discover, and things look different from different viewpoints. Be open, be willing, and be ready.

Family is important. It’s the foundation for all your life lessons and whether you have bad experiences or good experiences– there is still a lesson inside.

Strong communication is important and so is learning how others around you communicate. Pay attention to what is said and not said, how it is said, what you think someone means, and what they really mean.

Heavy loads are easier to manage if others help you carry it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Pulling hair is not a successful outcome of conflict.

A poopy diaper is just a poopy diaper. There is nothing spiritual about it.