Waiting

Oh my is that one of the all time most difficult concepts and processes to teach or experience? Waiting, as parents,

until:
they are ready to cooperate
they've thought of what they want to say
they can control their thoughts and emotions
for the doctor or dentist in a waiting room with not enough to do
at the shops when you want to hurry and they have to go to the bathroom and there's a line
until you have brought the necessary supplies into your abode to accomplish whatever it is they want to accomplish
for better times
for more resources
until you have calmed
for relatives to arrive 
waiting for someone in charge to pay attention

And for kids:
waiting for adults to listen
waiting for adults to understand
waiting to master something so you can do it right
waiting for time to pass 
waiting to be older.

OK...do you see the difference? For us adults, the focus is whatever we are waiting for. We know about waiting. We know how we behave when we handle it well. We know how we behave when we don't handle it well and lose our patience.

For kids, the actual act of waiting is something to learn. What does it feel like? What happens if it does work out? What happens if it doesn't work out.
Babies are lost in time. Toddlers are aware of time. Preschoolers are frustrated by time. Children are trying to make peace with time. Adolescents are tired of time and trying to defy it.  

How can you help the youngers ones in your life deal with waiting? Use all fronts: explain, describe, reflect, deflect, be a companion and model. 

BUT...the best thing you can do is be aware of when waiting is the issue and let it take it's course. 

Sometimes the best way to deal with waiting is to just let time pass.

Of all the unknown social skills that need practical mastery, waiting is the most powerful. Leaning to make peace with waiting as a daily necessity is optimal. 

Take five minutes to reflect. Everything else can wait.
Love,Deborah