Comments on: Patience and Parenting http://www.bauerconfidential.com/2009/08/18/patience-and-parenting/ The life and times of Matthew and April Bauer Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:03:47 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Laura Westhoff http://www.bauerconfidential.com/2009/08/18/patience-and-parenting/comment-page-1/#comment-38013 Laura Westhoff Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:00:07 +0000 http://www.bauerconfidential.com/?p=681#comment-38013 Does anyone remember the old 'Calgone' ads? The woman is standing in the middle of the kitchen and she has a screaming baby, and the phone is ringing and the dog is barking and she says 'Calgone, take me away!' Unfortunately, it might be hours or days or months before you can just relax in a bath and let Calgone take you away, but when my puppy is barking and I'm trying to talk on the phone and my doorbell is ringing, I have to kind of laugh at how ridiculously stressful that situation seems at the time. But, I have a weird sense of humor. Maybe I get it from my Grandpa, who always said "you may as well laugh as cry". If it is more of a 'waiting for a train so I don't miss my plane' kind of stress, I close my eyes and go to my 'happy place'. Yes, I have one. It is laying on my back when I was a kid, with my dog by my side, looking up at a perfectly blue sky with clouds, a slight breeze ruffling my hair. This has also gotten me through getting dental work done without being put all the way out. If either of these fails, there's always the Meltdown. I'm sure you were witness to a few of these when we were roomies, where you just have a good cry (the one you have been holding in all day so no one sees you cry at work) and curse and insist that everything and everyone sucks. Then you pick yourself up and move on. I have already had a 'puppy related' Meltdown where I felt that perhaps all I will do from now on is work, cook and eat dinner and take care of my dog with no extra time to do anything. But, like you so sagely said, I must live in the now and enjoy just how cute and little he is. Soon, he will be 70lbs big, not need as much attention and I won't be able to pick him up bodily and give him a hug when I get home. Sorry for the extra long post. It's been too long since we talked, and I'm excited I finally figured out how to post on your blog!!! Does anyone remember the old ‘Calgone’ ads? The woman is standing in the middle of the kitchen and she has a screaming baby, and the phone is ringing and the dog is barking and she says ‘Calgone, take me away!’

Unfortunately, it might be hours or days or months before you can just relax in a bath and let Calgone take you away, but when my puppy is barking and I’m trying to talk on the phone and my doorbell is ringing, I have to kind of laugh at how ridiculously stressful that situation seems at the time. But, I have a weird sense of humor. Maybe I get it from my Grandpa, who always said “you may as well laugh as cry”.

If it is more of a ‘waiting for a train so I don’t miss my plane’ kind of stress, I close my eyes and go to my ‘happy place’. Yes, I have one. It is laying on my back when I was a kid, with my dog by my side, looking up at a perfectly blue sky with clouds, a slight breeze ruffling my hair. This has also gotten me through getting dental work done without being put all the way out.

If either of these fails, there’s always the Meltdown. I’m sure you were witness to a few of these when we were roomies, where you just have a good cry (the one you have been holding in all day so no one sees you cry at work) and curse and insist that everything and everyone sucks. Then you pick yourself up and move on. I have already had a ‘puppy related’ Meltdown where I felt that perhaps all I will do from now on is work, cook and eat dinner and take care of my dog with no extra time to do anything.

But, like you so sagely said, I must live in the now and enjoy just how cute and little he is. Soon, he will be 70lbs big, not need as much attention and I won’t be able to pick him up bodily and give him a hug when I get home.

Sorry for the extra long post. It’s been too long since we talked, and I’m excited I finally figured out how to post on your blog!!!

]]> By: Prolife Aunt Natalie http://www.bauerconfidential.com/2009/08/18/patience-and-parenting/comment-page-1/#comment-35533 Prolife Aunt Natalie Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:28:53 +0000 http://www.bauerconfidential.com/?p=681#comment-35533 "Lord, give me Patience...and give it to me right now!" " Luckily, you don't have to be a patient person to be a parent- your children will teach it to you". (I read both of those somewhere, so I can't take credit, but I like them!) “Lord, give me Patience…and give it to me right now!” ” Luckily, you don’t have to be a patient person to be a parent- your children will teach it to you”.
(I read both of those somewhere, so I can’t take credit, but I like them!)

]]> By: April http://www.bauerconfidential.com/2009/08/18/patience-and-parenting/comment-page-1/#comment-34964 April Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:01:12 +0000 http://www.bauerconfidential.com/?p=681#comment-34964 Sarah: Thanks, I sure hope it works that way! I agree that children are adorable for a reason, so you can't help but want to take care of them, no matter how they behave! A Free Man: And soap too! Velma: I agree with you, now I'm starting to realize when I'm just reacting instead of taking a moment to rein in my temper. Robin: Thanks, we're partial to her ;) I'm doing my best with the one day at a time thing! Mom: Now my whole twenties make sense! I seem to remember you cursing me "May you have a child just like you!" In retrospect, does that seem like a bad thing to you? Sarah: Thanks, I sure hope it works that way! I agree that children are adorable for a reason, so you can’t help but want to take care of them, no matter how they behave!
A Free Man: And soap too!
Velma: I agree with you, now I’m starting to realize when I’m just reacting instead of taking a moment to rein in my temper.
Robin: Thanks, we’re partial to her ;) I’m doing my best with the one day at a time thing!
Mom: Now my whole twenties make sense! I seem to remember you cursing me “May you have a child just like you!” In retrospect, does that seem like a bad thing to you?

]]> By: Grandma Pam http://www.bauerconfidential.com/2009/08/18/patience-and-parenting/comment-page-1/#comment-34861 Grandma Pam Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:16:59 +0000 http://www.bauerconfidential.com/?p=681#comment-34861 When there's a situation that needs patience, when you feel that sense of aggravation rising up in you, take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then think of all the delicious ways you're going to be able to find to aggravate her when she's a grownup. When there’s a situation that needs patience, when you feel that sense of aggravation rising up in you, take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then think of all the delicious ways you’re going to be able to find to aggravate her when she’s a grownup.

]]> By: Robin http://www.bauerconfidential.com/2009/08/18/patience-and-parenting/comment-page-1/#comment-34811 Robin Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:31:36 +0000 http://www.bauerconfidential.com/?p=681#comment-34811 She is adorable.... Just take it one day at a time and ejoy it all. Wishing you and yours a beautiful day She is adorable….
Just take it one day at a time and ejoy it all.

Wishing you and yours a beautiful day

]]> By: Velma http://www.bauerconfidential.com/2009/08/18/patience-and-parenting/comment-page-1/#comment-34804 Velma Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:53:32 +0000 http://www.bauerconfidential.com/?p=681#comment-34804 Patience is like a muscle - at least for me. Once I decided that I wanted to start cultivating it, the universe gave me ample opportunities to practice. Eventually, once I just gave in to what was, I found I had loads of patience. I get impatient when I think I know best/what needs to be done/how things should be. I find that I'm able to be more patient when I also cultivate equal doses of humility (maybe I don't know everything) and trust (maybe things will work out ok even if I don't pull all the strings - hell, they'll probably work out better!). I haven't had the opportunity to apply this to being a parent yet, but it's definitely worked on the "becoming a parent" journey. Everything got a lot easier, and I got a lot happier, once I got my ego out of the way and accepted what was. (I have a purring kitty in my lap!! I don't know if I'll be able to go to work today! She's awfully comfy... =) Patience is like a muscle – at least for me. Once I decided that I wanted to start cultivating it, the universe gave me ample opportunities to practice. Eventually, once I just gave in to what was, I found I had loads of patience. I get impatient when I think I know best/what needs to be done/how things should be. I find that I’m able to be more patient when I also cultivate equal doses of humility (maybe I don’t know everything) and trust (maybe things will work out ok even if I don’t pull all the strings – hell, they’ll probably work out better!). I haven’t had the opportunity to apply this to being a parent yet, but it’s definitely worked on the “becoming a parent” journey. Everything got a lot easier, and I got a lot happier, once I got my ego out of the way and accepted what was.

(I have a purring kitty in my lap!! I don’t know if I’ll be able to go to work today! She’s awfully comfy… =)

]]> By: A Free Man http://www.bauerconfidential.com/2009/08/18/patience-and-parenting/comment-page-1/#comment-34791 A Free Man Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:06:28 +0000 http://www.bauerconfidential.com/?p=681#comment-34791 A LOT of washclothes. I worried about the patience thing as well. But I've found that I have more than I thought. You probably do as well. A LOT of washclothes.

I worried about the patience thing as well. But I’ve found that I have more than I thought. You probably do as well.

]]> By: Sarah W http://www.bauerconfidential.com/2009/08/18/patience-and-parenting/comment-page-1/#comment-34741 Sarah W Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:47:04 +0000 http://www.bauerconfidential.com/?p=681#comment-34741 Loved this post.....so true! The thing I've discovered is there is a reason why God made kids cute......for days when you think you don't have once ounce of patience left and you are hanging off the edge of a rapidly fraying rope....one look at that face makes it all go away. Andrew often knows when mommy's patience is done.....all he has to do is flash that smile and that's it! :) Seriously though.....it's something I have to ask God to give me an extra measure of each day, but then there are so many moments where it all pays off. And if worse comes to worse.......you just join em! ;) Loved this post…..so true! The thing I’ve discovered is there is a reason why God made kids cute……for days when you think you don’t have once ounce of patience left and you are hanging off the edge of a rapidly fraying rope….one look at that face makes it all go away. Andrew often knows when mommy’s patience is done…..all he has to do is flash that smile and that’s it! :)

Seriously though…..it’s something I have to ask God to give me an extra measure of each day, but then there are so many moments where it all pays off.

And if worse comes to worse…….you just join em! ;)

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