Can you relate?
We're ready to go somewhere - perhaps even running a bit late - and I'm waiting impatiently for my son to find the toy he NEEDS to take. Then, I wait impatiently while he climbs into the car all by himself. He takes time to get situated, because just as he's about to get seated so I can quickle buckle him, he sees a long-lost toy under the seat and jumps down to get it. Finally, I get him buckled. Okay we're off.
I tell my son he "lollygags". He thinks it's a funny word.
Same at bedtime. What would take me 2.3 minutes or less (changing into pj's and brushing my teeth) takes my son 30. He is distracted by a toy on the dresser, needs time to choose which pj's he'll wear (batman, spiderman or toy story), has to fling each article of clothing he's removing into the laundry basket with emphasis and accuracy. If he misses, he has to lunge to retrieve, back up, and try again. He stops to pet the dog. As I start to pick up his pj bottoms to hurry him along I get the, "I can do it". Fine. Do it. I resist the urge to hurry him up. Then, it's teeth brushing time. Making faces in the mirror, looking at his tongue... He flosses, kind of, and then slowly (and I mean slowly) flips the cap back off the toothpaste and proceeds to ever....so gently...squeeze....the tiniest....amount...of toothpaste onto the brush.
From start to finish - no joke - changing and brushing takes him 30 flippin minutes.
Again, lollygagging.
As much as I'd like my son to move faster, I realize there is absolutely no reason for him to move at the 90-mile-an-hour pace I sometimes find myself moving. Matter of fact, I'm working to slow down to his pace more often. I'm working to lollygag.
How long has it been since you've lollygagged? Taken your time? Stopped to smell the proverbial flowers? We can learn a lot from our kids.
Speaking of learning something from our kids, my son just hollared at me to come dance with him cuz it's a really good song. Off I go...to dance.
