Words by Amy Molloy
‘Mummy, have you ever laid on a beach with a drink in your hand and let your body relax? I think it would be really good for your stress levels.’
This was my four-year-old’s advice as she watched me juggle parenting and my book launch. (I should mention, she’d just spilled coffee over the laundry.)
My six-year-old son had wisdom too: ‘D’you know, there’s a little person in your brain who gives you strength? The problem is, sometimes the smoke alarm goes off when you’ve just burnt toast.’
A lot of parenting is Pokémon talk. And then there are moments when our kids make our jaws drop with their insight.
During two years of research for Wise Child, I interviewed parents, educators, therapists, and healers. They all agreed: this generation is different—eloquent, empathetic, sensitive, and, in many ways, wise beyond their years.
So, what if we shifted our perspective? What if, instead of assuming we’re here to teach them, we let them teach us?
Reading Energy
Have you ever walked into a room with your child, and they immediately whisper, ‘I don’t like it here’? Or refused to hug a relative? Many kids—whether we acknowledge it or not—are incredibly sensitive to energy. They pick up on moods, tension, and the emotions we try to hide.
In Wise Child, I share the story of a five-year-old who refused to go to school because she didn’t like her substitute teacher’s ‘energy.’ Instead of dismissing her, her mum listened. The principal let her swap classes, and later, her mum admitted, ‘When I tuned into that teacher, I didn’t dig her energy either.’
How often have we ignored a gut feeling, only to regret it later? Our kids remind us to stay present, listen beyond words, and honour the energy of the spaces we enter.
Accepting Death
Death is one of the hardest topics for parents, but children seem to understand it better than we do.
A 10-year-old in Wise Child told his mum, ‘If you die in one dimension, you’ll come back in another, but you’re not completely the same. I know, it’s hard for your generation to understand. Mum, I’m not afraid of death, I live in full acceptance.’
Where adults fear endings, children often see cycles. They don’t attach the same dread to death until they learn it from us. What if we embraced their natural acceptance? What if we trusted that love, in some form, continues?
Releasing Shame
Children arrive free from shame. They dance in the middle of a store, tell you exactly how they feel, and wear mismatched outfits with pride. Shame is something we teach them—often unintentionally—through societal expectations, rules, and unspoken messages.
The young people I spoke to for Wise Child amazed me with their perspectives on body image, gender, and self-worth. A twelve-year-old, Lucian, put it best:
‘We must start by valuing ourselves so we can value others. When we make a mistake, instead of asking, “What is wrong with me?” we can simply think, “How could I do better?”’
He added: ‘Our inner voice is the most powerful voice we hear—we must use it wisely.’
Living in Joy
Children don’t delay joy. They don’t say, ‘I’ll be happy when I get that promotion,’ or ‘I’ll celebrate after I finish my to-do list.’ If they want to dance, they dance. If they think something is funny, they laugh without reservation. They don’t wait for permission to enjoy life.
Watching a child delight in a butterfly or a silly joke reminds us that joy isn’t in achievements; it’s in the little moments we often overlook.
I have a Post-it on my mirror that reads, ‘I deserve a baby as joyful as [my daughter’s name].’
Sometimes, my daughter’s joy feels scary—too hopeful, too vulnerable. But over time, she has taught me to trust my happiness.
So what if, today, we let our children teach us? It’s a great relief when we realize parents don’t need all the answers—and our kids know more than we think they do.
Wise Child is out now, published by Hay House. Follow Amy on Instagram @amy_molloy or visit amymolloy.com.au.
