Most parents know how much we teach our children. It begins at birth or maybe even before and it continues throughout life. However, few parents think about how our children teach us. But just as we teach our children throughout their lives, they too teach us.

Just look at some of the ways they teach us. When your new baby arrives, you really don’t know much about your child at all. Then the learning begins. Your child teaches you to recognize his cries when he is hungry or when he is tired. This just hints at the many lessons he will be teaching you in the months and years to come. These are just the beginning lessons.

All of us want to share the beauty of the world with our children. Pointing out the amazing clouds in the sky, especially this year, is one way to teach your child about beauty. But one of the positives of doing this is what we each learn as we share this beauty with our children. If we weren’t wanting to share this beauty, we might not even have looked at it.

The same is true of the wonders of spring. Many parents point out the many flowers and trees in bloom to their young child. If we didn’t have that child, it is possible we wouldn’t pay as much attention to the flowers and trees that are so spectacular right now. Another lesson learned.

Remember telling your young child to be nice and thoughtful with his friends. This is especially important when your child will be a having someone over with whom he has problems.

Make sure you remember this lesson your child just heard applies to you when the neighbor woman comes by. She is the one you have difficulties being nice to at a time when you should be thoughtful and considerate. One more lesson from your child.

Think about the time your child received a game that needed complex (at least you thought it was complex) skills to assemble it. Your child wanted to play the game so she asked you to help. Now look at what she taught you to learn about putting the game together. Think of all you would learn if you built a playhouse or assembled the gym set.

The lessons are a necessity as your child matures. Driving is a great example. Most children are excited to learn to drive. For him to learn to drive, he probably needs help from you. Your job is to teach him about the driving laws, the best features of your car and how to be a responsible driver.

In return, you probably learn how to improve your own driving. Just your effort about helping him learn to drive causes you to focus more on how you drive. You may slow down, be better about giving pedestrians the right of way and be more positive about the police officer you just saw.

Most parents have to work hard to help their child stay caught up in school. They try to impress upon their children the importance of looking ahead and have discussions on the problem of procrastination.

But the lesson parents learn is that they too have deadlines. Uncle Sam has deadlines and so do many other things like property tax, rent and dozens of other things. Plan ahead.

So learning is a two-way street. You learn from some of the people in your life who you most want to teach. We all just need to be open because learning is all around us. Be sure to thank your child for adding to your learning.

One of the best kept secrets is that parenting goes on forever. Maybe that is a good thing. Make sure learning goes both ways.

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and former executive director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which publishes newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents. Reach Martin at pmf@olypen.com.