I always have a plan. I don't like when things get in the way of my plan. One of the things that I have been trying to work on lately is flexibility. Being able to actually "go with the flow" without getting frustrated in order to be a better ME.
Time is always a big one. I like to be on time for just about everything, and am constantly trying to get things done according to the clock. Since I have become a mother, I realize that my kids are two of my biggest challenges to this. They work on a different time clock. One that doesn't often fit into my master plan.
Here is an example. My five year old daughter Emma Rose has found that her favorite time to share with me is at bedtime. I am sure that this is the case in many homes as it is the perfect stall tactic. It begins when she starts the upward climb into her loft bed. "So, can we talk?" she asks hopefully. I look up at her in her loft, glance at the clock, and take a breath. I start to feel my pulse quicken at the fact that it is already later than I would have liked for her to be heading up to bed, but I am trying to be flexible, so I say... "Ok, we can talk for about five minutes." "How about ten?"she asks. "We'll see... just get up there! I am coming up and it is getting very late!"
"So, what do you want to talk about?" I ask after we have completed the straightening of the covers ritual. "Well, today Gassin hit me on my finger and it hurt a lot and he didn't even say he was sorry!" and so it begins. This is what I have been waiting for since I picked her up from school. I have to really remind myself not to "wrap this up" quickly, just because it is late and I am super tired. I take another breath and we talk back and forth and then before we know it, it really IS late and I am starting to get irritated that she is up so late and I make her promise me that she won't give me a hard time in the morning. "I promise" she says as I kiss her forehead.
I compliment myself on not getting too bent out of shape that it got to be so late. After all, I am so lucky to have these moments in my life with my kids. What could be more important?
So my new plan is to allow time for these "unexpected" sharing moments. To plan to be more flexible. Especially for the moments that are initiated by my kids. Why? Because I don't want to miss out on them just because I don't have the time.
I am very curious as to how other parents deal with this. How do other parents deal with being flexible?
