The Lesson of Toys and Toddlers: A Tale of Growth and Humility

Amazing things often surround us, hidden in the simplicity of everyday life, waiting to offer us insights into living with wisdom and humility. One such lesson can be drawn from the relationship between a toddler and their toys.

To a toddler, many toys appear enormous — some motorized, some complex, each loaded with buttons and blinking lights. These toys seem to carry the toddler, helping them explore, learn, and interact with their world. But over time, something shifts.

The once oversized toys begin to shrink — not in size, but in significance. What once seemed large and essential becomes less suitable as the toddler grows. Eventually, the toys no longer carry the child; the child has grown to carry the toys.

This quiet transformation reflects a deeper truth: the very things that once supported us in our early stages of learning often become the things we learn to carry ourselves. Just as a toddler evolves, so do we — our roles expand, our minds stretch, and our perspectives shift. Humility comes not from the complexity of our accomplishments, but from the simple, powerful recognition that we have changed. That we have grown. And in that growth, we now carry what once carried us.

There have been times when projects and challenges tossed us around — pushing us from one learning platform to another. We googled frantically, sought help in hushed tones, and studied long into the night, fueled more by fear than confidence. Fear that someone might discover how little we knew. Yet we pressed on. And somehow, in that pressing, we grew.

Those intimidating tasks that once overwhelmed us? They’ve become familiar ground. The knowledge gaps that once carried us around are now the very tools we carry forward — with strength, with clarity, with purpose. The lack that once defined us has become a mark of how far we’ve come.

✨ If this piece encouraged you…

Feel free to share your thoughts on:

What once carried you?

What do you carry now?

Growth rarely announces itself. But if you pause and look closely, you might just notice: the toy is in your hands now.