hahaha.
I am feeling elated right now that our new website has finally launched. It has been a long haul, and, I for one, feel like it was worth the wait. I really love it. However, as the last couple of weeks transpired, I noticed that patience was barely registering on my internal scale.
After having spent countless hours, weeks, months (not so much as yearS, but more than one!,) working on this new ‘baby’ ~~ what was another week or two? I was coming up against an ugly part of myself — frustrated, short-tempered — definitely not in a space of ‘flow.’
Wait! Why was this feeling so familiar — oh yeah, that mood is the one that I most dislike when it relates to my parenting skills. I really hate it when I catch myself sounding snappy with Lily, or quickly finishing up a task for her because I can’t wait an extra minute or two to let her figure it out herself (this could be anything from making her own lunch to tying her own shoes.)
I can only say that over the last couple of years, and especially as she is so interested in finding her autonomy, I have been far more conscious of my impatience, which I suppose is a step in the direction of patience.
Last night I witnessed the most amazing display of patience coming from a man from Japan who happened to be at a small gathering we were at. Nobu is here in the States for a year of ESL (English as a Second Language) studies and was wanting to connect with Lily, but uncertain of his language skills. (Editor’s note: as a person who spent a year in a foreign land with no command of the language, I was shocked by how well Nobu kept a conversation going!) Nobu suggested that he could show Lily how to do origami, and I watched as this gentle man guided my daughter through about 120 steps to create a very interesting creature — somewhere along the line, Nobu crossed his origami repertoire and ended up with a ‘puffer crane’ of sorts. Hilarious. But also amazing to witness the process.
When I grow up, I want to have patience like Nobu.
I know it’s been a lot of work — but I love your new site!
Thanks, Kendra! Now I know why they call these things a ‘labor’ of love!
I love this reminder in patience. One would think this is an easy thing to realize, but it is hard and must be practiced for a lifetime! Love the pic!
Thanks RS. We agree, patience must be practiced!