Life Lessons From a Seven Month Old

7 Lessons From My 7 Month Old Son Winston Cash Kistner

We have a whole lot to learn from children. Take a child to the park, and within minutes they will have a handful of new best friends. But put an adult in an elevator with a handful of strangers and nobody speaks at all.

At only 7 months old, my boy is still too young to run around the playground making new friends, but still he provides me with some extremely valuable life lessons.  I think we can all take a little something away from these….



1. Make people feel special: my son, Cash, is such a happy and healthy baby. Most of the time when he sees anyone his face lights up and he breaks into a big gummy smile. He makes everyone feel so special, and they love him for it.

2. Be curious: Cash will try to grab anything that is near him. And he is constantly trying new things (you have never seen a baby try harder to crawl!). Without a doubt, he shows the sparks of curiosity that I believe are so important in life. So often, as adults, we lose that spark of curiousness and become too entrenched in our everyday routines.

3. Let people know if something is bothering you: when Cash is upset –no matter what the cause– he lets my wife and I know immediately! While I don’t suggest you cry and shout whenever something is wrong, it may be in your best interest to ask for help when you need it. Many times friends, family, and co-workers are more than happy to help out. 

4. Have no fear: if an adult wasn’t around to watch him, Cash would take some unbelievable risks!  He wouldn’t hesitate to leap off the sofa or launch himself out of his high chair. I am not suggesting that you become reckless and dangerous, but why let fear run your life? Try new things and push fear aside so you can grow.  

5. Get enough sleep: I certainly don’t recommend sleeping between 14 – 15 hours (the amount of sleep a 6 month old needs each day) but you should take the time to recharge your batteries properly. Get a good night’s sleep and make the important investment of a good mattress for yourself.

6. Be cute: the girls love it :) Enough said!

7. Set aside some adult time: The first year of a child's life can be extremely demanding on the parents. It is important to take time for yourself to provide much needed balance. You will be happier and better able to cope with the demands of raising a small child.