Bad Horse

Genius is eternal patience. – Michelangelo

I couldn’t imagine a better quote exists for helping someone understand what it takes to be a great parent.  I only wish it were easier to be a genius.

This morning I was anything but a genius, I was a beginner, again.

As we were trying to get our son dressed for school it didn’t go as well as I might have hoped.

I lost my patience, and it did anything but help the situation.  Somehow in my mind I knew that where I was going wasn’t helping, but that did little to stop me from going there.  As I rushed him and urged him to accept the choices we were giving him, I lost sight of the fact that he is a 6 year old boy.  6 year old boys have their own way of being, their own set of things they want, and how they want them.  Yet I did little to include him in the process.  Instead I tried to force my way.  Now I am left with the trail of regret that is the cost of not being present, not being mindful, and not listening to what is going on around me.

The work for me continues, and begins new each day.  I am only sorry that my lessons often come at the expense of the joy and happiness of others.

Once again I am reminded that my way is that of the bad horse.

‘…it is said that there are four kinds of horses: excellent ones, good ones, poor ones, and bad ones. The best horse will run slow and fast, right and left, at the driver's will, before it sees the shadow of the whip; the second best will run as well as the first one, just before the whip reaches its skin; the third one will run when it feels pain on its body; the fourth will run after the pain penetrates the marrow of its bones.