Teaching the Virtues: Patience Waiting is the Hardest Part By
Mary Dixon Lebeau When waiting in line with her 4-year-old twin
girls Anna and Josie, Jennifer Miller, a Maryland-based mom, has
her own special way of refocusing her girls’ attention. “Whether
it’s waiting in line or waiting for dinner, I just refocus their
attention on something else. Distraction can be a very useful
tool with young children,” Miller says. She already sees
evidence that her girls are beginning to learn to entertain
themselves. “Sure, they still whine when they have to wait for
something,” Miller admits. “But more and more, I see them
automatically turning their attention where they know I’ll be
directing it anyway.” The Waiting is the Hardest Part As Tom
Petty croons in one of his songs, in this hurry up and wait
society, the waiting is indeed the hardest part. Children would
love nothing more than the hours and minutes between now and
when a vacation or plate of spaghetti would materialize.
Therefore, patience is a key to succes