Patience is a myth

I thought I was patient—then I tried teaching my youngest son to ride a bike.

“Keep pedaling!”

“Don’t look down!”

“Don’t look at the trees!”

“Keep it straight! No, the other straight!”

Five minutes in, I realized I wasn’t just teaching him how to ride a bike—I was also teaching myself deep breathing techniques. It’s amazing how a bike and a 5 year-old with an attention span of a knat can test your patience in new ways.

But then it happens: that moment when your kid takes off on their own, grinning from ear to ear. “Look, I’m riding my bike.” Suddenly, all the running, chasing, and not yelling pays off. And you’re left thinking, Maybe I’m more patient than I give myself credit for.