Most adults recognize it is their “job” to teach children right from wrong, good from bad, safe from scary, yes from no.

But there are some lessons that children are better at teaching us. Think about celebrations like birthdays (especially Christmas), and Easter, and any other special days that have the possibility of “presents” attached. Kids LOVE them, anticipate and adore them. Children love and accept presents with unabashed enthusiasm. Receiving a gift is “all good.”

For adults it is a bit more difficult. We worry about the cost of the gift. We worry about reciprocating the gift. We worry about whether the gift has invisible “strings” attached. Suddenly “receiving” is a bit more complicated than just joyous. Receiving a gift is hard for most of us. We either feel beholden, or suspi…