Beep, Beep!

©2007, Official Star Wars Blog, Beep!

"Patience and fortitude conquer all things," said Emerson.

I believe I possess the first but am without enough fortitude to pacify my desire to verbally ream the impatient parents at my son's school.  Monday thru Friday I deliver my child to the place where learning occurs. And the lack of common courtesy demonstrated by fellow parents astonishes me.  People who, mind you, ought to posses the virtue of patience.  Parents are, after all, the very figures children model themselves after.  Allow me to describe the behavior these children witness - and are being taught indirectly.

School begins at 8:45 and students must arrive by 8:40.  A faculty or security person will assist the children from the vehicle and aim them in the direction of the building.  Important if the child is younger.  I normally drop James, my son, off around 8:25, a little early.  At that time there isn't always someone waiting to help the kids exit the vehicles. 

This was the case last week when I got out of my car to help James.  I'll add that James is never quick about anything.  He's 6.  Nothing is so dire as to make him feel a need to rush.  Frankly, I wouldn't wish him otherwise. Time is of no consequence when you're young.  That said he fiddled a bit before slipping his backpack on. It was also raining some, so I took a second to pull up his hood.  Then, I waited until he walked into the building. The whole process took, oh, 3 minutes. Three minutes! In those 3 minutes, the few vehicles in line sounded off at least a beep per minute.  This was absurd to me. Did they expect me to shove my kid out of the car, speed off and not look back?  Is that what they do each morning? I wondered.

I later shared this story with my own mother.  She had the most simple, perfect advice (as mothers always do).  She said, "Next time that happens, April, you just smile and wave."  I will smile next time.  It's the polite thing to do and is certain to infuriate them, which makes me smile on the inside too.

I bet you have your own stories about impatience, or just plain rudeness.  Feel free to vent them here.  I'd love to hear.  Or maybe you think me too sensitive?  Do tell.