Life lessons from 4-year-olds

Four-year-olds are a funny breed. They live life with abandon. Too much abandon if you ask me.

Imagine a roomful of 4-year-olds. Forget wind generators or solar panels. The energy production of a dozen pre-k kids could light a small city. It's clean energy, too.

My daughter Jenny Cole is a wrangler of said 4 year olds. She does it for a living. By choice. I had the privilege last week of spending an entire day with Jenny and her students. She is a marvelous teacher of these tiny tykes. I believe she is a child whisperer. Never raising her voice, she gets these kids to follow directions using positive reinforcement. "I like the way so-and-so is listening." "Thank you so-and-so for working quietly." "Friend, is that the way we stand in line?" "Only 1 towel to dry our hands please. So-and-so I see you used 3 towels." Jenny's calm exterior not once betrayed her inner frustration with some behaviors. That's remarkable because I KNOW my daughter can let go with an impressive display of frustration given the right opportunity. In the classroom, Jenny models the exact behavior she wants from her students. And it works like magic. Most of the time.

While I was marveling at how adept my daughter is at moving little ones from one activity to another, I must say I learned something from the kids, too. Four is a wise old age. Here's some of the lessons I learned about life from the pre-k kids:

• The idea that your teacher has a mommy is weird, and for some, really funny.
• Pumpkins smell "orange."
• Blowing milk bubbles through your straw is magic - and funny. But don't let your teacher catch you because you will lose your milk. Chocolate milk, too.
• You have to criss-cross your legs when you sit on the carpet or you might accidentally kick the girl in front of you - several times. This will result in Mrs. Cole asking nicely for you to cross your legs.
• Waiting for a swing at recess takes patience, for sure. But when one finally opens up, don't forget to duck on your way to the swing.
• Social networking is gold in pre-k. Your best friend is the kind that yells "good-bye" over and over until you yell it back.

Yep. Four-year-olds are a lot of fun to hang with, but I couldn't do it every day. I'm just glad there are wonderul people like my daughter who can.