Craig Daily Press

I recently began to notice that my children are smarter than I am.

Those of you who have teenage children most likely are saying, "Well, duh, you should have known that a long time ago."

My oldest child is almost 8, and he's been trying to teach me this for the past several years. I think I'm finally catching on.

Actually, I'm thinking that maybe my kids are smarter because they're closer to the truth of the old adage: All you really need to know, you learned in kindergarten.

Parenting is certainly making me give my old kindergarten lessons a fresh look. Here's the refresher course:

Share everything

I didn't realize this meant my drink, my toothbrush, my pillows, my blankets and even my garage (which now has its own toy section).

Play fair

I didn't realize this meant, when playing my (or my son's) play station, that I needed to let him win every once in a while.

Don't hit people

I didn't realize how tough this rule would be, when my toilet is spitting water out of it at six gallons per minute, because my children broke off the shut-off valve (mind you, I did stay as calm as possible, no hitting was involved).

Put things back

where you found them

I didn't realize that teaching this was so tough, I wonder if Mrs. Urnick (my kindergarten teacher) struggled to teach me this like I struggle to teach this now.

Clean up your

own mess

Again, I didn't realize this was so tough to teach.

Don't take things

that aren't yours

I didn't realize that this rule did not apply to children, but it's OK, all my things are my wife's anyway, right?

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody

I didn't realize I would have to tell Cabbage Patch kids this. I figured this was only for humans.

Flush

I didn't realize this would be as important as it is, especially after you buy your child a dog for his birthday.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you

I didn't realize there wouldn't be any warm cookies left less than an hour after they were made.

Live a balanced life

Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. I didn't realize how fulfilling all these are when doing them with your children.

Take a nap

every afternoon

I didn't realize this would never happen again, after your children were past the age of 3.

When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together

I didn't realize that walking up a hill in the town of Craig with my daughter that takes steps 1/3 the length of mine would take so long, yet be so much fun.

Goldfish, hamsters, white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup -- they all die. So do we.

I didn't realize that I would be 29 and still not like this concept, but that my son would be able to grasp it at age 7. When my grandma fell ill, I returned to my hotel room to find a note that read, "Dad, I felt sorry that you're Grandma had a stroak. Peyton.

Be aware of wonder

Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup? The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that. I didn't realize this is the only one that children really listen to. But, I have to hand it to Jamey, because every time the tough questions such as "how are babies made?" come up, I simply refer them to her.

Finally, and remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned -- the biggest word of all --

LOOK!

I didn't realize I would use this word before every discussion I would have with my children such as "Look, you can not put the play dough container in the toilet, it causes problems." "Look, the reason you can't feed the dog chocolate is simple ... "

So much for the kindergarten lessons. The big lesson is this: My children and my wife are truly the light of my life. And I thank them for that.