Asking For Patience Every Day

I like to think I’m a generally patient person.

Or at least I did. Until I had a child who loves to push things to the very edge, trying to take everything one (or five) steps beyond what we’ve talked about. Repeatedly.

Sometimes when I snap, it’s over safety measures. (Don’t go near the grill when it’s lit!) But sometimes, it’s just because keeping her within any sort of lines just gets exhausting.

We try to have a plan, because things tend to be easier when we’re on a schedule. But sometimes life gets in the way of that. For instance, right now we’re at the beach, which in theory is full of rest and relaxation. But after a full day of play, sun, and lots of new and interesting things to test out, we’re both maxed out — her on listening, and me on patience.

So a few notes to my daughter:

Please know that I’m trying as hard as I can. I pray for patience, and for the ability to put myself into your very big four year old feelings and understand where you’re coming from. But while you are arguably the best thing in my world, you’re far from the only thing in it, which means I can’t always keep it together.

I hope that you see how hard I’m trying. That when I hit a breaking point, it’s not because I haven’t been trying to focus in on what’s best for you in this situation. Sometimes I just can’t be enough for you in that moment. Or I’m just pushed myself too hard, too far for my own emotions to take.

I also hope that one day you can take this big, bold, fearless personality and turn it into whatever your version of success is. Run a Fortune 500 company, make your community the very best it can be, have powerful connections and relationships.

So I ask for patience everyday. To make our family stronger, and to make sure your personality stays this bold.

But please, just back away from the grill when it’s lit. Please.

Caitlin Jacob
Caitlin made her way to Lafayette more than a decade ago, after growing up in North Carolina and then graduating from the University of Georgia. Since then, she married the man who introduced her to Cajun country, and they welcomed their now 5 year old daughter into the world. She spends her days working in marketing, telling stories using her bag of digital tricks. When she’s not working or wrangling her tiny human, she can be found running (slowly), testing new baking recipes (ask about her almond poppyseed bread), or wielding a glue gun for her latest craft project.