We've all got 'em, let's share a few...

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horror stories gone good. As mothers who believe children should experience life, we go through some tough situations. Its a hard road to travel; watching your child make mistakes, stand against the wind, and explore their being...and hope and pray that they learn something from it.Right? But isn't it worth it? Aren't the rewards much greater than the sacrifices? Here are some of mine: 1)My daughters were 18 months and just over 2 years. I worked two jobs, a partime day job and full time evening.My husband worked partime and was attending college.We had my brother living with us as a nanny. I came home from work one day, to a mother's day cake being baked on my kitchen floor. My brother had fallen asleep, and I don't childproof my home, so the girls got everything liquid out of the fridge and dumped it in a pile on the floor. Eggs(including their shells), milk, syrup, creamer, orange juice...you got the picture. And they got out the whisks and all, to mix it up. They even had the cake pans floured. MAN was that a mess to clean up. But hey, I didn't yell or scold or spank. They got down there with me. They picked up the shells and threw them away. They swept up flour, and sopped up the liquids, right there with me. They learned that baking isn't done on the floor, as they noticed dirt on their rags. They learned that syrup isn't used in making a cake, as I read recipes to them. They learned egg shells must be removed from the eggs, when I scrambled a couple up with shells, and allowed them to try it. I learned that my girls love to bake, and we've spent HOURS in the kitchen together since. My kids also learned that when they make a mess, they are responsible to clean it up. And my love for them is unconditional. 2)My son was 4 1/2, like all boys he thought he was bigger than he was. I was down in the basement doing laundry, the girls(7 & 8 now) were upstairs working on school work. Mr. Allen decided to grab mom's keys and take a joy ride. When I started up the basement stairs, he came down with a terrified look on his face. Wouldn't say a word. I knew something was up, so I asked if he'd done something he shouldn't have. He nodded his head, but still wouldn't speak. He lead me upstairs and out the front door. I noticed immediately that the car was moved, about 3 foot backwards from where I had parked it. WOW, this was a big one, I thought I should rethink my childproofing philosophy. But I sat and talked with him. He scared the crap out of himself. He knew where the shifter in the car was, which pedal was the break and its function, he also knew how to shut the car off, because I had taken the time EVERY time we'd been in the car together for the previous 10 months, to answer these questions, and show him how they worked. When he realized the car was headed to the road, and he couldn't reach the break pedal, he turned off the ignition. Stopping the car plenty of time before it reached the road. We talked about how much the car weighed vs how much he weighed. How far away from the seats the pedals are vs how far away from his but his feet are, and how far above the seat the windshield is compared to how far away from his waste his head is. We also watched some shows about car accidents, and one involving pedestrians, and young kids. He learned measurements, he learned that "don't do this" is said for safety not restriction, he learned of cause and effect, and even some critical thinking and analysis. I have no doubt he will not try this again any time soon. And since this, he's had the opportunity to steer the car on my lap in parking lots, to gain a better understanding of just how difficult it is to control that 2 ton machine. I've got lots more, but I'd like to read some of yours before I share anymore...I know I'm not the only one with stories like these. What have you learned about your kids? What have your kids learned about themselves, and/or life in general?