Patience is a virtue, as the proverbial phrase goes, and perhaps doubly so for parents. No matter what the age or stage of your children, patience is a key element in ensuring you’re doing your absolute best to fulfill your parental duties well.
Of course, who can try a parent’s patience more easily than one’s child? These little people who have been put in your care have an uncanny ability to reflect on you every insecurity you harbor, every pet peeve you hold, every flaw you try to hide, and every shortcoming you fear. Like mirrors into one’s character, it’s as if God sent them to you to make you aware of every way in which you might improve.
Every parent wants to be the best they can be for their children. When we lack patience, it’s hard to be the warm, nurturing parent we want to be. We might snap at them or passively send them the message that they are a bother or somehow doing something wrong, even when they are not.
Take Care
Most parents will do everything they can to take care of their children, but they can often neglect taking care of themselves. The irony is that in order to do well taking care of one’s children, one must tend to oneself.Rather than subsisting on leftover goldfish crackers and four hours of sleep a night, set up your habits in such a way that takes maximum care of you—your children’s mom or dad.
Simplify
Often, a lack of patience manifests when one feels interrupted or overwhelmed. Childhood is fleeting. Make your parenting duties the priority by scaling back other less important obligations or tasks. Give yourself some breathing room by arranging your days in such a way that you have time to focus on your children. Life can quickly pile up, so be intentional with your time.Bedtime
Regular bedtime routines can have a huge effect on your entire home life. If your and your children’s bedtime habits are not conducive to your life, take the steps to establish new habits.
Slow Down
Parents have a lot on their plates, and we can find ourselves rushing from one task to another.Nurture
As children grow, they are learning how to comport themselves in the world. If you are losing patience because their behavior is unsatisfactory to you, take time to lovingly and patiently teach them well. Ensure they are getting enough sleep, eating healthy, unprocessed, and nutritious foods, and not spending much time staring at screens. Get them outside into nature and teach them well all along the way. Nurture your children’s bodies, minds, and souls, and you’ll find there is less for you to lose patience over.Reflect
When you find yourself feeling particularly impatient, pause and reflect on the root cause. What’s really bothering you about this situation? Is there something you fear or worry about? Are you thinking about your reputation among others or your own self-interest in some way?Our children truly can show us ways in which we can improve. Take the lesson when it comes, and you may even find yourself thanking your children for the opportunity for growth. When you see challenges as gifts, you’ll find yourself with much more patience to pull from.
