How Can We Work on Patience?

 

"Patience is not passive; on the contrary, it is active, it is concentrated strength."

Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

By nature, I am not the most patient of people. It has become something I have to work at.  I have a tendency to string myself a little too thin with overcommitments and obligations. This puts me in a constant sense of urgency and rush. As a consequence, I am a little too easily frustrated when my four year old wants to stop and examine the "rollie-pollies" on the side walk as we head to load into the car. As he stops to inspect them, in awe of their capability of rolling themselves into a tiny sphere, I am agitated that it is taking him an eternity to reach the car.

"They're so cute!" he squeals.

"Yeah, yeah... get in the car!"

"Look, this is a baby one! Where's his mommy and daddy?"

"I don't know, babe. Hurry up. Get in the car."

"I think he lost his mommy and daddy. I'm going to look for them."

"No! Not now... GET IN THE CAR!"

After all, we are rushing to go to the gymnastics class I enrolled him in so that he could have some social and physical activity to guarantee that he would be a well rounded child. That's important, right? More important than rollie-pollies?

But my son is heartbroken that the "baby rollie-pollie" appears to be an orphan and has no interest in going to gymnastics. I have him drop the rollie-pollie to the ground and lift him up to load him in the car myself. He immediately starts crying.

I am on the edge of losing it. Why is he being so emotional over a bug? Can't he see we only have 5.5 minutes before we are late... again... to gymnastics? Gymnastics class... the one in which he can't seem to sit through a demonstration, whines about having to jump on the trampoline, pesters the girls in pony tails and tights, runs around when he is suppose to be sitting, refuses to flip on the bar, is bored by the balance beam, and burps the alphabet if he thinks the kids around him will laugh.

Tell me again why I'm in a rush to do that tonight? I get out of the car and unbuckle my little guy. "Come on. Let's go look for his mommy and daddy." And my little guy is satisfied and content.

I have to remind myself to chill. I should be moved by his compassion and his interest in new things that are so wonderful and mysterious to him... things I've seen a million times and look over every day. I want to appreciate how he marvels such tiny things.

So, what are some ways we can daily work on our patience?

I love this post from Inspired to Action who suggests we as moms can work on our patience by doing the following:

1. Sleep 7-8 Hours
2. Drink 6-8 Glasses of Water
3. Be Like a Wall of Jello.
4. Be All There
5. Don't Multi-Task
6. Start 15 Minutes Early

Check out her post on How To Be A More Patient Mom in Just 24 Hours if you get a chance. 

If you are reading along in MomSense, Jean Blackmer includes tips on radiating cool. You can check them out on pg. 71.

1. Know if you're tired. 
2. Do an attitude check.
3. PMS. Know your menstrual cycle.
4. Be aware of your stress level.
5. Employ your sense of humor.
6. Did you grow up with a parent who had a short fuse?
7. Remember your children are watching you.

I think the last one is the most important one to me. How do I want my little guy to react to others? I don't want him high strung. I need to be a better example for his sake if not for my own sanity.

What are ways you cool off? How do you control your frustrations?