Learning....to let her experiment

Today my bold, confident, "jump-right-in" daughter (that would be Lara) decided it would be an experiment day. On her agenda....play dough & slime.  She reviewed a few YouTube videos, felt she knew how to do it and then took over the kitchen.

Out came the mixing bowls, measuring cups, food coloring, flour, salt, borax and glue. And into the kitchen came two little sisters. I am proud of  Lara for graciously including them, but seeing all three with sticky homemade-playdough-hands (and clothes after rubbing their hands on their shirts) made me start to cringe.

This is where my learning/growing process comes into play. I admire Lara's confidence. She is not wary of trying new things. She charges forward with ideas and she boldly loves others by including them in her life. But sometimes (ok, lots of times) her confidence emerges as an impetuous, act-without-thinking manner. I'm learning that when Lara puts her mind to try something potentially messy and wasteful, as long as she's not in danger I need to hold back my instinct to thwart - or control - the plan and let her experiment.

So, instead of focusing on the kichen mess, I reminded myself that they are only kids once. And that they only have each learning moment once. So, what did I want the girls to learn? That messes are a reason to get upset and controlling? Or that life is full of messes and mistakes that we need to deal with and "clean up" in a loving way? Did I want them to believe that a clean kitchen is more important than their discovery? Or learn that I believed in them, knowing that they would clean up after themselves?

The greatest lesson learned came after Lara'a slime making. Actually, we need to call it the wad-of-colored-something making. Slime it is not, but not for lack of trying. Lara went through 3 bottles of glue and unknown amounts of Borax trying to get the right consistency.

Lara: "I feel like I wasted everthing"
Me: It was only a few bottles of glue. Let's examine your end product later to see what you did make. What did you learn?
Lara: That I should have followed the directions better.

Aha! Very valuable lesson learned. And I didn't need to control the learning experience for Lara to draw that conclusion.

Reminds me of Isaiah 54:13 (NIV)
           All your children will be taught by the Lord , and great will be their peace.

God is our ultimate teacher and I am thankful that my children discern the wisdom He has for them. And thankful that He loves me enough to remind me that it is important to let my children learn from Him.