parental patience = child's patience

Well, I'd like to think that one must equal the other. Last night, the little kids (we group Jessi, Matt and Nick into this category) had to sit through 2 hours of high school concert music. Overall, they were good, but there was lots of movement. Movement from Nick in protest of having to sit for so long. Movement from Matt who would sign wildly at me and Emma. And an occasional shift of the body from Jessi who just wanted to fall asleep and be left alone. During this semi-torturous event, I found myself deep breathing quite a few times as I practiced patience with the situation.

Fast forward to today when Matt comes home from school. Some may call it OCD, but he NEEDS to perform a task as soon as he crosses the threshold: ride his bike in the "driverwary", swim, play video games with Allen, and the newest...... vacuum with the new cordless machine that has a slight Star Wars look to it.

Nick had first dibs on the cleaner and quickly ran the battery down. Matt was distraught that I had placed it on the charger and threw himself on the floor, I suspect to wait for the charging to be complete. Watching this take place made me happy. OK, not all of the associated screams and whines, but the fact that Matt had a mission and he would lay on the floor until the vacuum is finished. 

Some say kids are packaged similar to their parents. I hope Matt's patience to wait for the charging vacuum is a testament to my waiting with patience at last night's concert.