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 | the optimist |
We had rain all afternoon yesterday, so Owen spent those hours asking if he could ride his bike. I tell you, that boy has optimism. Why be daunted by the 846 times I’ve already said no? Maybe #847 will be a yes!
At the time I was tempted to think of that as pestering, but later (say, once he was asleep for the night) I could see calling it persistence. Persistence! Persistence is a good thing. A useful life skill. One that I also happen to have some practice at. And if it rains again all day today, I bet I’ll get more practice still. Because nope, you can’t ride your bike in the rain the 1412th time you ask, either.
I’m thinking I’ll need to encourage some other useful life skills if the weather stays this way. Like assembling jigsaw puzzles. That’s a skill, right? Maybe not as all-purpose-useful as persistence, but it has its uses. Also: tidying up the toy shelves. That’s a useful life skill! And, um, reading a book quietly. We can always practice that more. We could even, one might say, persist at it.
I love your post and I agree that kids are great teachers of persistence. And persistence pays off, too. Get that boy into sales. He’s not afraid to hear no. You’re giving him some good training Mommy!
And, I am curious…
Why can’t he ride his bike in the rain?
I have 4 boys, too. My youngest is 10, my oldest 18. They have taught me that some of my rules are arbitrary and that to really enjoy life, I need to break some of the rules and ride bikes in the rain.
Have fun!
Trying not to laugh because I have the same experience…barely make it through the day without killing mine for some quality that, as an adult, will do him very well.
Persistence, indeed.
[good luck, Melissa. It's after bed that I try really hard to remember that learning patience will help me as an adult. Doesn't work and I resort to chocolate, but still...]