Kids can teach you a lot. They’re small, but their brains retain a lot more than you may think. I’ve worked with kids on and off since I was in high school and I’ve gotten so much out of every minute of it. I may not have enjoyed every temper tantrum, but I really am glad I got to experience the world through their eyes during conversations and playtime with them.

Snack time and playtime have shown me to be some of the most expressive parts of a child’s day. Just yesterday, I was sitting with some almost-kindergarteners who wanted to pretend their cheese sticks were rocket ships. I have no idea how they came up with it, but I was happy to go along with it (as long as I got to eat a cheese stick, too).

Playtime especially reminded me of my pre-elementary school days where it didn’t matter if boys played with girls and vice versa. I watched a child the other day play with Barbies along with his two other female classmates. It was amazing to watch how well they played together considering how stigmatized that sort of interaction is for most children. When I was a kid, it was made very clear what kind of games were for boys and what kinds were for girls. It’s pretty cool to see that that has changed.

Working with children also makes me realize how much I miss being an imaginative kid. Their minds are so full of funny and interesting ideas. I never get bored listening to them because pretty much anything goes when it comes to having a conversation with a child.

My desires for a career path have changed a few times. I’ve always wanted to be a psychology major, even since high school, but I always thought I wouldn’t be able to work with children. I now understand that that may be the most fulfilling path in my life. Maybe then when I have kids of my own a long way down the road, I won’t be the awkward mom in the universe.