Life's Teachable Moments

You never know when you’re going to be in a situation that you might not know how to get out of. It could be anything from picking your nose and getting caught to asking a woman how far along she is in her pregnancy and she isn’t even pregnant. Well, my husband likes to take the most opportune moments to teach our daughters life’s teachable moments. However, they aren’t your everyday situations that he is teaching them. It’s knowledge at a different level … well for a four year old that is.

We live super close to our church, and usually we walk. Sometimes we drive because of the kids and carting bags and such because it just makes it easier. Well, Stella asks us often if she can ride in the trunk from the church to home. Although sometimes we consider it, we don’t let her because it’s frowned upon. Also, because we don’t see getting DCFS called on us as a whole lot of fun.

However, the other night after we got home from church I brought two of the girls inside and Matt had Stella wait outside. He brought his bags inside and told me they would be right back. I did a few things in the house and was wondering what on earth they were doing. After a few minutes, I opened the blind and looked outside. At that moment, Stella was in the trunk and he got in with her and then closed it. Inside the trunk he was telling her what to do in the event that she gets kidnapped. (Obviously a skill we hope she never has to use.) He taught her to look for the glowing handle that will open the trunk. After they had been in the trunk for a few minutes it opened up. Matt got out and then told her he was going to close it. So, he did and I heard him say, “okay Stella, show me how you open the trunk.” I kept watching and sure enough within a few seconds she opened the trunk from the inside. 

Next he had her do it again, only a little different. He closed the trunk and then went and started the car. I panicked for a short moment  but he obviously had a plan. Surely, he wasn’t going to just leave with her in there. She waited until the car was turned on, so that he would’t be able to hear her escaping. She had a huge smile on her face, as if she just accomplished something huge. Matt heard the trunk and turned off the car. He gave her a high five and told her good job because she had done exactly what he had taught her. 

They finally came inside and she told me all about it. I’m sure she will be asking to ride in the trunk even more now. Although we positively won’t let her, now that she knows how to escape.

What are some opportune moments you or your spouse have taken to teach your kids an unusual teachable moment?