Thinking back to the days of studying with my friend in high school (she was the top of the class) I remember how patient she was in coming to conclusions, answering questions, and writing essays. She was slow, meticulous, and purposeful. I tried to emulate her ability but I failed time and again.
Because of my impatience to get through my work I was not an excellent student just an average student. To this day I have to force myself to slow down and accomplish the same amount of work in a little more time but with much more affective results.
So, I'm probably the last person to teach my son patience. That doesn't mean I'm not going to try.
We live in a fast-paced world: fast food, fast internet, fast games, fast speed limits, etc. It wasn't until I listened to my son complain for the millionth time about how long it takes to complete his math lessons that I finally understood the real problem.
It's not so much the time it takes but that school was too easy for him in elementary. He loved math, sped through the lessons, then he'd rush out to play or get on the computer. He wasn't required to write as much as he is now and answering questions was much easier and quicker.
Now school is more intricate, more detailed, and more is expected of him. He doesn't like it! None of us really do for that matter. We all like simple and uncomplicated. We want reward and gratification with as little effort as possible.
Can you imagine the patience it would take from us to trek across the country in a covered wagon, and then wait for papa to build a house so you don't have to live in a dugout? Or waiting for mama to churn the milk for butter and cheese? How about waiting for your socks to mended, or new ones to be knitted? It's romantic to believe we could handle it, but I don't think that is the case.
We are a generation, and we're raising the next generation, that just doesn't like to slow down. We have the mindset ~ the faster, the better. We need to remember and teach our teens sometimes slow and steady really does win the race.
So I stopped my son just before the frustration could take hold. I told him it was like he was walking along a path, saw a 20 MPH sign, and thought he should try to speed up to that limit. It's just not possible. The sign is for the cars on the street not for pedestrians walking on the sidewalk. He needs to slow down, work at his own pace, and take one step at a time.
The minute the words were out of my mouth a light went on behind my son's eyes. He stared at me a moment, his lips in the classic O, as the logic slowly sank in. He returned to his work still having the occasional issue of hurrying through his lesson, but a little reminder now and then to slow down helped him mightily.
Getting a teen to slow their motor is difficult, but hey it's not that easy for us either. I don't want to even imagine how many trips to the well I'd have to make, or how long it would take to heat up the water just to fill a bath like in the "good ol' days". Thank heaven for modern conveniences and those who were as impatient as I am to invent them for us.
photo credit: Rich Anderson
Because of my impatience to get through my work I was not an excellent student just an average student. To this day I have to force myself to slow down and accomplish the same amount of work in a little more time but with much more affective results.
So, I'm probably the last person to teach my son patience. That doesn't mean I'm not going to try.
We live in a fast-paced world: fast food, fast internet, fast games, fast speed limits, etc. It wasn't until I listened to my son complain for the millionth time about how long it takes to complete his math lessons that I finally understood the real problem.
It's not so much the time it takes but that school was too easy for him in elementary. He loved math, sped through the lessons, then he'd rush out to play or get on the computer. He wasn't required to write as much as he is now and answering questions was much easier and quicker.
Now school is more intricate, more detailed, and more is expected of him. He doesn't like it! None of us really do for that matter. We all like simple and uncomplicated. We want reward and gratification with as little effort as possible.
Can you imagine the patience it would take from us to trek across the country in a covered wagon, and then wait for papa to build a house so you don't have to live in a dugout? Or waiting for mama to churn the milk for butter and cheese? How about waiting for your socks to mended, or new ones to be knitted? It's romantic to believe we could handle it, but I don't think that is the case.
We are a generation, and we're raising the next generation, that just doesn't like to slow down. We have the mindset ~ the faster, the better. We need to remember and teach our teens sometimes slow and steady really does win the race.
So I stopped my son just before the frustration could take hold. I told him it was like he was walking along a path, saw a 20 MPH sign, and thought he should try to speed up to that limit. It's just not possible. The sign is for the cars on the street not for pedestrians walking on the sidewalk. He needs to slow down, work at his own pace, and take one step at a time.
The minute the words were out of my mouth a light went on behind my son's eyes. He stared at me a moment, his lips in the classic O, as the logic slowly sank in. He returned to his work still having the occasional issue of hurrying through his lesson, but a little reminder now and then to slow down helped him mightily.
Getting a teen to slow their motor is difficult, but hey it's not that easy for us either. I don't want to even imagine how many trips to the well I'd have to make, or how long it would take to heat up the water just to fill a bath like in the "good ol' days". Thank heaven for modern conveniences and those who were as impatient as I am to invent them for us.
What about your teen, is his or her motor revving faster than it needs to? Do they need to learn patience in their work and study habits?
I'm linking up with Finishing Strong from iHomeschool Network. I've been featured in the past and have learned so much from others who are homeschooling through the Middle and High School Years. Go on over and see who else is joining, or link up your own post.
photo credit: Rich Anderson
GREAT reminder!! Thanks for sharing at Finishing Strong!
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