Love is Patient

Patience has been going through my mind quite a bit lately, patience with my children, my husband, my financial situation, and myself.

I have never had as much patience as my husband when it comes to my kids, he is always the one who tells me to calm down. And I understand, I get it. I am the one who works because of this, I can have patience if I have nothing else to worry about. And I have patience with adults all day but my kids for some reason not so much. I make the mistake though of comparing my kids to how I acted as a child… ALOT of the time.

I was an easy going child (and an only child) who didnt dare whine because my father was a 6’1″ 250 lbs of good old southern boy. He did not take me disrepecting my mother, or not eating my food, or whining about not getting a toy. He would give me a look and I would button my lip faster than you could say yes sir. But it was the same with my mother too, she shot a look that could make a missle turn the other way. Difference between the two though, if she said no, she would sit me down and we would have a conversation as to why no was said.

I dont have the patience. I dont have the patience to explain why you can’t climb on the bookshelf (for the 12th time) or why you have to eat all your dinner (so you’ll actually grow past my waist) or why I cant spend 70 dollars on a toy right now (I am actually pretty straight forward with them on money though I will say that). I am unfortanly quick to anger, and my kids unfortunately know it. My favorite phrase with my 7 year old growing up was suck it up butter cup, brush it off your okay. I would always say it with a smile but I wanted her to grow up independent and able to brush off what the world threw at her… This backfired by the way. My four year old is the independent one and I have babied her horribly.

But I digress, patience has been something we have all needed a lot of. And those of us that don’t have it to begin with are feeling it.

You can strech the patience you have though, realize your triggers…express yourself instead of saying silent…take a BIG BREATH! Lately I have been trying to remember the 5×5 rule, if it isnt going to matter in 5 years dont spend more than 5 minutes stressing on it.

And lastly, guys at the end of the day forgive yourself. It is okay…when your child wakes up trust me they are still 100% going to think the earth revolves around you. And thats the part about having patience with yourself to know you are still growing and learning.

My husband, bless his heart. We will fight occasionally and get annoyed with each other but he is always patience with me and reads me like a book. Its hard to explain but he mirrors my emotions to be the safe place I need.

Patience is hard to find and easy to lose but it is always there. What are your favorite ways to stay patient with your little loves? What are ways you stay patient with yourself?