How My Toddler Schooled Me on Slowing Down
I don’t thrive in hurry. I don’t like the way I think, talk and act when I’m in a hurry. But, like a child running down a hill, the momentum of hurry accelerates my speed.
Lately I’ve been appreciating a new set of “breaks” I’ve been blessed with. I have an ever-present tool for slowing down, for quieting the hurry – an independent toddler. My baby who once demanded to be held constantly now wants the freedom to walk and explore on her own. More and more I hear the
words “I do it!” spill from her lips.
Everything takes her a bit longer to do on her own, though. She can get her shirt on alone, but it takes five times longer than if I do it. She can climb into her car seat independently, but not nearly as fast as I can lift her up and put her in it.
Now, I wish I could say that in an effort to foster her growth, I’ve intentionally been building time and space in our life to accommodate her independence. But, that would be a big fat lie!
No, I’ve been in my normal swirling tornado of hurry. But, when I try to draw her into my storm, she downright refuses (a.k.a., screams her little head off).
The other day we were reading a book together. We’ve recently started reading more “paper books.” While she is an expert at turning the pages of board books (and she flips pages on the iPad like a pro), she’s still working out the dexterity required for turning paper pages.
We had nowhere to go. We were not in a hurry. We were just reading together. But for some reason (probably my addiction to hurry), I was annoyed at how long it was taking her to turn the pages. So, I tried to intervene at do it for her.
“No Mama!!! I do it!! No Mama, no!!!” Her sweet cries showed my hurry had sucked the joy and pleasure right out of the room.
Thankfully, I knew it was my turn to submit. I was in the wrong. I held her close and said, “Yes sweetie, you do it. Show mama how to slow down.”
There are times in life where there is a need for speed, and AE will surely have to submit to me at times on that. But, I also need to master the art of shifting into a lower gear and breaking. Some of life’s greatest moments are found at the stop signs.
Are you a swirling tornado of hurry, too? How do you slow down? What lessons are you currently learning from your little ones? I’d love to hear!
Very true! Thanks for the reminder because it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle of the day and forget that the little munchkins need that time to learn.
My kids have been teaching me this lesson for YEARS! I constantly struggle with hurrying them though things…….and them just wanting to go at their own pace. I hear “Slow down, Momma. You’re walking too fast.” all the time when we are out. I try and rush them through meals….but really, why? We have no lunch bells at our house. When we’re reading a story that I’ve read one too many times….they call out “Wait! Go back. I wasn’t done looking at the picture.” One advantage for me is summer. I find myself in a place where I want to laze away the day at the park and not rush home….to whatever it is that I thought was calling. We linger just a little longer coloring the sidewalk with our chalk. We pause on our walks to look at flowers or sticks or dirt piles. I have many more ‘yes you can days’ and many fewer ‘not now’ days. Must practice the slow down mantra until the lazy days of summer sun call me naturally to slow down and enjoy.
I hate how hurried my life has been. It’s taken a lot of concerted effort to slow it down, and yet I still find thing-after-thing to do to occupy my time. I LOVE how my baby teaches me to stop “filling time” and instead just “enjoy time.” I’ve been trying to become better at just looking at her and cherish the moments of holding her, because some day they will be a distant memory.
Oh Rachel, I love the “filing time” verses “enjoying time.” I’m going to remember that! Thank you!