Patience is a Virtue

I never fully understood the importance of patience until Carter became a toddler. Anyone who has lived with a toddler knows that it's like living in a mad house. This person who is now walking and talking clearly, gives you the false impression that they are now a rational and reasonable human being. Wrong! One minute they are playing happily and the next they are crying that you gave them the wrong colour spoon, cut their sandwich the wrong way, or that you didn't make that Lego figurine jump the right way.

Although there is an array of logical reasons for their behavior, it can sometimes be like figuring out the most difficult mathematic theorem. However, one thing I have learned is that no toddler "fire" can't be put out with just a little patience.

Here is one of many examples of this from this past week:

The other night Carter was extra emotional. He hadn't napped in three days and it was definitely catching up with him. Unfortunately Lincoln was also having an emotional night. With the two of them whining simultaneously as if they were trying to make music, I was ready to pull my hair out. Carter was whining because he wanted us to play with him and then he was whining because we weren't playing right, or because he wanted help, but then because he didn't want help. I was cleaning up from dinner and getting more and more frustrated, to the point where I finally yelled "Carter! Stop whining!" I instantly felt guilty because I hated hearing that when I was a kid. Realizing that we were not getting anywhere by both getting more upset, I stopped what I was doing, grabbed his hand and walked him upstairs. He cried the whole way. I sat on his bed and just hugged him while he cried. After about a minute he stopped crying and sat down on his floor. I got down there with him. We talked about how sometimes we just need a break from what we are doing when it is upsetting us. I then asked if he wanted to read his book "when I'm feeling angry." He said no, that he wanted to read "when I'm feeling sad." After reading the book and talking about it we agreed that we were ready to go back downstairs. On the way down the stairs Carter said "I'm sorry for whining mum." Again, I instantly felt guilty for even uttering the words. I apologized for yelling. The rest of the night went so much better. The whole thing took about 5 min. If I hadn't taken that time to help him (and me) to take ourselves out of the situation it would have only gotten worse, not better.

Now, to try remember this whenever things get stressful. It's amazing what a 3 year old can teach you!