For any of you that know me well, you know that patience is not one of my defining characteristics. It has always been something I have struggled with, and I definitely acknowledge it as a weakness. Over the last weekend I started to observe how that plays into my parenting, and boy, do I have some work to do.
My son is now at an age where he is getting into everything – which is totally normal. He is exploring the world around him. However, there are quite a few of those things that can be dangerous for him to explore, and one of my top jobs as a parent is to keep him safe. Lately, I find myself saying “no” a lot, and sometimes I notice myself getting annoyed when I have to say “no” about every five seconds. Surely there is something better than saying “no” all the time, and I really don’t like how I get frustrated. I know, I am human, but I wish I had more patience with this. It wasn’t the first time, and I know it won’t be the last. And, I can’t hinder his exploration and learning with my lack of patience.
So, how to be more patient with my parenting (and in life, for that matter)? That sometimes feels like my holy grail. I think meditation and mindfulness can help. And, while I think it is good for my son to wander and explore everything (with supervision) at this age, I am also thinking about creating more “safe spaces” (such as his crib), where I currently feel good that he will be safe if he stays in that area. We have some gates up around the house, but maybe we need a few more. This does not take away my responsibility to supervise him, but it might be a way to keep me from saying “no” over and over again.
Regardless of what happens, this is just one way that parenting is challenging me to be a better person. It’s not always easy, but I am grateful for the opportunities to improve myself as a mother and as an individual.