Tardiness

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I've recently seen a rash of posts on the good old facebook about tardiness.  (yes, about a giraffe too, but let's move on...)

Do you think that world is becoming more and more tardy?  Is lateness an epidemic that we're try to stem the flow on?

Greg Savage thinks so.  That it's not only become an epidemic, and it's also rude, inconsiderate and a time waster for everyone. All of these things are true.  However, it seems like Mr. Savage doesn't really think about the world we live in, and why we may all be late in the first place:

"And it is not that we lead 'busy lives'. That's a given, we all do, and it's a cop out to use that as an excuse. It's simply that some people no longer even pretend that they think your time is as important as theirs. And technology makes it worse. It seems texting or emailing that you are late somehow means you are no longer late"

 Yes, I agree that texting and e-mailing that you are late is not an excuse, you are still late, still rude and just as annoying.  And yes, technology somehow makes us think that we've been excused because we 'told you.'  However, I think we need to get back to the heart of the matter.  Why are we all running late in the first place.

I know that I put to much into each day.  That I never take into account traffic, or tantrums, or any of the other little things that can throw an otherwise normal day off kilter.  Once you've had children, your time is not your own.  Then we get into the discussion about leaving enough time to allow your child to try to do things themselves.  Which you know you want to allow them to do, but rarely have the time.

I think it's critically important to teach your children about respect, which includes other people's time.  However, I also think it's important as a mom to remember to take time, slow down, and let your life unfold a bit.  Nothing can be more sad than rushing a child to the car, only to have them try to smell the roses and get yelled at for 'dawdling'.

We want to encourage our kids to explore their world, and to do so we need to allow them the time they need.  So, here's my commitment. I'm writing it down, and I encourage all of you to do the same.

I commit to planning a bit less.  To allowing EG the freedom to explore her world.  One day at a time.