I am trying to teach my daughter, who is 3 1/2 years old, patience.  Savanna wants everything now, even if my hands are full, or I am in the middle of something else.  She does not understand and still wants whatever it is NOW.  I will say to Savanna, “you need to have patience.”  Teaching her patience is almost an impossible feat, but I continue to try.

For you working parents, I am sure  you can relate to the morning I am about to describe: Alarm goes off, coffee is ready, shower and get ready…all is going well.  Time to wake my daughter up.  Using my sweet voice, “Good morning Savanna, its time to get up.” I give her a kiss on the cheek.  Her response, nothing….

“Savanna it’s time to get up.”  rubbing her arm.  I say this a few more times, with no response.  Jiggle her arm a couple times, “Peanut its time to get up”  Now it is time to move her bedding, pillow, stuffed animals…now getting a response….”NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, GO AWAY MOMMY!!! After a few more outbursts, Savanna rises and rubs her eyes and is ready to get dressed.  Mind you, this takes about 10 minutes on a good day, so my day that was going so well planned an on time, is now behind.  After Savanna is ready, there is no urgency on her part to get in the car to go.  She wants to doddle, play with our dog, play with her hair brush or it is a myriad of things she needs to grab to take with her in the car, with this entire time me saying to her “come on Savanna we need to go.”  Her response, “Mommy you need to have patience. ”

Touché little one, touché!