Sneaky Ways We Teach the Important Stuff
If you walk into a room full of preschoolers and say, “Today we’re going to work on patience and emotional regulation,” they will scatter like roaches when the kitchen light flips on. 🫠
But if you hand them a popsicle, start a game, or casually “forget” whose turn it is… suddenly we’re in a full-blown life lesson and nobody even realizes it.
Bless it. This is what I call undercover parenting.
Because around here, if Jessica or Jenna even sniff a lesson… it’s immediate pushback.
So I’ve learned—you don’t teach it.
You sneak it in like veggies in mac & cheese.
1. Manners → “The Fancy Restaurant Game”
We’ll be sitting at Chick-fil-A (because let’s be honest), and I’ll say,
“Alright ladies, welcome to the fanciest restaurant in Atlanta.”
Suddenly:
“Yes ma’am” appears
Napkins are used
Pinkies may or may not be out
They think they’re being fancy.
I’m over here like: Look at these manners thriving.
2. Kindness → “Secret Helper Missions”
I’ll whisper, “Hey… can you do one kind thing for your sister without her noticing?”
Y’all, it becomes a full CIA operation.
Blankets get fixed
Toys get shared
Nugget gets 17 treats (he is thriving in this system)
Kindness feels like a game instead of a chore.
3. Friendship Skills → “Playdate Coaching… from the Kitchen”
I don’t hover. I “clean the kitchen” while absolutely listening to everything.
Then later: “Hey, I noticed when you let her pick the game, she smiled real big.”
No lecture. Just a highlight reel.
4. Patience → Baking & Waiting Games
Nothing builds patience like cookies they can’t eat yet.
“Good things take time” hits different when it’s chocolate chip.
Also:
Timers
“Let’s see who can wait the quietest”
And my personal favorite:
“If you can wait… you get the BIG one”
5. Persistence → “Oops, Try Again” Energy
We don’t say “you failed.”
We say, “Well… that didn’t work. What’s your next plan?”
Jessica will rework something 47 times just to prove she can.
Jenna will dramatically sigh and then try again anyway.
Progress.
6. Confidence → Let Them Be the “Expert”
Nothing boosts confidence like letting your kid explain something.
Even if it’s completely wrong. 😂
“Jenna, can you show me how to do that?”
Now she’s the teacher.
I’m just over here learning very incorrect but very confident information.
7. Being Happy for Others → “Hype Each Other Up” Game
We practice saying:
“WOW! You did such a good job!”
At first it sounds forced…
Then suddenly they’re cheering each other on like tiny pageant moms.
We love to see it.
8. Winning & Losing with Grace → Family Game Night (aka Character Building Night)
Let me tell you something…
UNO will humble you real quick.
We practice:
“Good game!”
“That was fun!”
“I’ll get you next time!”
(…even if someone is holding back tears and plotting revenge)
🐶 Bonus Lesson: Nugget Teaches Everything
If you want to teach:
Gentleness → give them a puppy
Responsibility → give them a puppy
Patience → DEFINITELY give them a puppy
Nugget has been:
Hugged too tight
Dressed up against his will
Given snacks at all hours
And yet … still wags his tail like we hung the moon.
Honestly, we could all take notes.
💛 The Truth, Mama to Mama
Most of the time, it doesn’t look like a lesson.
It looks like:
Chaos
Crumbs on the floor
Someone whining
Someone tattling
Nugget stealing a sock
But tucked inside all that mess…
they’re learning how to be good humans.
And if we can teach it without the meltdown?
Well shoot… that’s just good parenting right there.
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