At the end of last week my oldest had a doctor’s appointment. A followup that had a happy ending, so there’s that. We had all gotten up and moving way earlier than we usually do on any given day. I was pleased and overwhelmed at the same time. Trying to walk Miss Sophie and feed her and make sure that three other folks including myself eat and drink something AND visit the facilities before we left proved to be a little nerve-wracking.
Mostly because I didn’t want to be late.
Something I am pretty good at being. Late, that is.
Usually only by a minute or few, but still. Not my favorite thing in life to know about myself. (As an aside, it pleases me immensely that my oldest does not have this trait. She leaves way earlier than she needs to usually. PROUD Mama. She gets it from my folks, and so maybe it skipped a generation, and it’s not my fault? Ahem.)
The office was crowded when we got there. Who knew that so many people were early risers and LIKE first thing in the morning appointments?
We had to sit for a few minutes, waiting. We weren’t sure how long of a wait it would be. The appointment itself had the potential to last for well over an hour, so Aub was pretty eager to get the show on the road.
“Brandon!” the nurse called out the next patient to be seen.
Aub’s eyes got big and teary. “But…..” she actually made her lip quiver. “But my name is Auburn.”
Ha. I couldn’t help it. That girl can make me laugh, and I love her for it.
She was called back soon enough. The littles and I waited until the exam was over to go back with her. As I said, good news, so we are very thankful.
The whole thing got me to thinking about how much of our life is spent waiting.
Wow, Tara, there’s an original topic. I think everyone who has ever written has shared his or her thoughts about waiting, right?
So I promise these thoughts probably aren’t original, but they are mine nonetheless.
As a family of five, we have appointments and travel to and from those and activities that one does and the others do not–all of these offer ample opportunities to wait. To sit. To be. To do. Or not do.
To cogitate, as my Daddy would say.
And I think it’s important that we think of it as an opportunity. If we approach all the times we are waiting on doctors or other professionals, or all of the time sitting while someone is dancing or swimming or learning about fish as something we HAVE to do, we will spend a lot of time being miserable.
Waiting is another one of those givens in life. I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t have to wait on something. Even if it’s for a bathroom stall to become available or for their turn at the checkout counter.
We all have to wait at some point.
Might as well make the best of the OPPORTUNITY.
That is one thing I think we are doing okay as a family. I don’t always feel like we get things right, so yes, this I think we are finally getting better at, and I’m taking that as a win. We try to prepare for those waits. We pack books and snacks and electronic devices (that privilege is a rare one that gets saved for waiting times for the most part) and head out the door.
We’re not perfect. I won’t say that no one ever whines, because that would be a HUGE untruth. Sometimes they (okay, we) do. But we are working on it, and I think we are getting better at the waiting. In line, in chairs, in offices, in the car.
And getting better is a good start.
Tonight I’m thankful for my children who can make me laugh at all the unexpected moments. I’m thankful for our learning together that there is beauty in the waiting–that we are learning as a family how to wait. It’s a skill to be honed for sure. But I fully believe that it is one that will serve us well. So many of the very best things in life require at least a little bit of patience and waiting. And the time spent in that holding period makes it all the more special when the waiting is over.
Wishing you all a good spirit and something to do when Brandon’s name is called instead of yours, and that you are able to make the very best of the opportunities in waiting.
Love to all.
I Might Need A Nap 