It only has three letters, but it is such a powerful word. It’s been on Sesame Street, the topic of a powerful TED Talk, and the subject of numerous articles. It is the word “yet.” And this small word has become an essential part of my vocabulary as a mom.
When I first started using “yet,” it was to discuss foods. My daughter would proclaim, “I don’t like broccoli.” I would let her know it was okay not to like broccoli, but I would also remind her, “You don’t like it yet.”
“Yet“ is open-ended. It means that, no, it hasn’t happened, but it may. This powerful word invites possibility.
As my daughter’s vocabulary and emotions continued to grow and mature, I found myself reassuring her through the use of this word, again, but for bigger issues. When she got frustrated learning a new skill, “yet” was there again to help remind her that just because it hadn’t happened didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen.
This thinking isn’t new. Frank Sinatra released a song in 1964 titled “The Best Is Yet to Come.”
“You think you’ve seen the sun, but you ain’t seen it shine/ Wait till the warm-up’s underway…/ And wait till you see that sunshine day…/The best is yet to come…”
When it comes down to it, I think most of us believe in this power of “yet”: that there will be more sun and sunshine days in our future.
How many times have you been told that better things are coming? Or that the best is yet to come? Scaling that idea back for kids, “yet,” can help our children as they grow and mature by promoting a growth mindset (something us teachers already discuss with students) and helping develop grit (another topic familiar to us teachers).
So when your son or daughter doesn’t make the basketball team, or your child is frustrated learning how to learn to tie their shoes, or your toddler complains about the yucky taste of a food, consider one of the best words to integrate into your conversation: “yet.”
