Patience....a work in progress

Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties.

I have struggled with this on a daily basis since I was very young! In some areas, like waiting on old people, waiting on my husband and small children I can "persevere in the face of delay or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset," but in other areas like traffic, unorganized or irresponsible coworkers, unfairness, children with attitude and complainers, I have very low tolerance.

From the moment I get up in the morning, until I sit down in the evening, my engine is running at 120 mph. I get amazing amounts of tasks accomplished (Yes, even with Samuel in tow...) and it frustrates me that others can't.

I am very understanding of slowness because of age, either old or young. They both deserve the extra effort. I've learned to be patient with my husband because we compliment each other. He isn't at full speed until 10 am, but he can function longer into the night then I can. He helps me relax and not to take things so seriously. God definitely found me the right man.

I don't speed in traffic, but it annoys me when people aren't paying attention and they are going under the speed limit or miss turn lights etc, because they are talking on their cell phones or are putting on makeup, etc.

I am very organized in every area of my life, but at work, I am even more so. I think a classrooms operates better when things all have a home and the systems that are in place help the children to take ownership of how things function. When I am absent my students basically run the day and the substitute is just there to supervise.

My husband and I laugh about how instead of becoming my mother and marrying my father, I became my father and married my mother. I like very clear directions and rules and I do what I am told to do and respect authority figures. So children that are RUDE, THROW TANTRUMS, POUT or TALK BACK make the HAIR STAND UP ON THE BACK OF MY NECK and PEA SOUP COMES OUT OF MY MOUTH! At these moments my eyes get very big, my back gets straighter, my voice is very low and I ar-tic-u-late every word.

Doesn't it seem like the same people are always doing all the jobs and the others are just complaining. I go "batty" when the same coworkers are always complaining about the way things run, but they don't want to step up and help them run better. These are always the same people who never know when the meeting is, didn't get that memo and although they've worked at the same job for years, never knew that was what the rule was. I refuse to baby them. I'll tell them straight to their face that I put the memo in their box and we've had this meeting every month at the same day and time for six years. I'd like to say, "Get the stick out of your butt, pay attention, stop making excuses and do your #$% job."

Believe it or not, I am better then I used to be, but I am definitely a work in progress. God help me!