Patience: Hiccups, Helping, and Finding Harmony
Today’s topic touches on something we all struggle with as moms and entrepreneurs: patience—or rather, the challenges that make patience seem like a superpower we have to summon daily. Whether it’s managing your kids’ emotions or juggling business tasks, staying calm can feel like an uphill battle.
The Early Stages: Easier, But Not Without Its Hiccups
The baby stage can feel like a bit of a breeze. Babies just eat, sleep, poop, and cry sometimes—but their needs are simple, and they don’t talk back (yet!). It’s when they hit around two to five years old that things start to change. And for me, the “terrible twos” weren’t as bad as people made them out to be. Instead, I found that three, four, and five were the tougher years, particularly with emotions running high.
It’s fascinating how differently boys and girls express emotions. My son, for example, was more emotional than my girls at younger ages. As they get older, though, I saw my five-year-old girls become more emotional, while my son, who is a teen now, deals with hormonal changes that bring out a new level of emotional challenges.
The Emotional Rollercoaster
The key thing to remember is that kids are learning emotions—they don’t even know what they’re feeling half the time. They can’t identify “I’m angry” or “I’m sad,” and it’s our job as parents to help guide them through understanding and managing those feelings.
A live attendee echoed this sentiment, noting that her boy seems to be more complicated than her girls. He flips from emotion to emotion quickly, which can be exhausting, especially when you don’t always see it coming. But with the right tools and guidance, we can help them handle it.
Impatience—A Parent’s Struggle
Being a busy mom and entrepreneur, impatience sneaks up when I’m stretched too thin. Whether it’s handling client meetings, business deadlines, or managing homeschool for my kids, everything can feel overwhelming. Mood is a huge factor—if I’m in a bad headspace or tired, I have less capacity to deal with tantrums, spills, or sibling arguments.
So what’s my solution? Planning. I started using a planner religiously, mapping out both my day and my kids’ activities. It’s not just for business, but for household and personal tasks, too. This helps me feel in control and alleviates that mental load, especially when I need to focus on my business while making sure my kids are occupied and thriving.
Raising Teens: A Whole New Level of Patience
Teenagers want to assert their independence, sometimes by talking back or challenging boundaries. The live attendee had to take the hard step of removing privileges when her daughter became disrespectful. It was tough, but necessary to teach responsibility and respect. With my son, we try to discuss what’s going on, how he’s feeling, if there’s a solution or a consequence that may fit the behavior happening.
Following through with consequences is one of the hardest things to do as a parent. It’s heartbreaking, but kids need consistency, and they need to understand that respect is earned. This also applies in business. Whether you’re dealing with clients or partners, respect and clear boundaries are key to maintaining healthy relationships.
What Helps You Stay Patient?
For me, I’ve found that taking time for self-care—like reading a chapter or two in my book after the kids go to bed—recharges my energy. It’s about finding that little sliver of the day where I can do something for myself.
What triggers your impatience? Is it the overwhelming to-do list, sibling rivalry, or something else? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Closing Thoughts: Learning to Be More Patient
Remember, some days will be better than others. “Patience,” as Guy Kawasaki says, “is the art of concealing your impatience.” As parents, and especially as moms in business, sometimes we need to fake it till we make it. Being patient doesn’t mean never feeling frustrated—it just means taking a breath, planning, and making sure we show up for ourselves and our kids as best we can.
Let’s keep the conversation going! Drop a comment below about what makes you lose patience and how you regain it.
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