BY MICHAEL KENNEDY
VIRGINIA BEACH — My daughter, Kara, is 12 years old. My wife, Kim, and I have discovered that this is quite the remarkable age.
Kara is just a few months away from becoming a teenager, yet she is only a few years removed from the magical world of Disney princesses. She is very much looking forward to officially becoming a teenager. Kim and I perhaps less so, as we watch the years go by.
Nonetheless, we are all excited for the growth and maturity which is about to blossom.
I recently asked Kara what she thought being a teenager meant. Her response included perceived benefits – staying up late, going more places unaccompanied by her parental units, etc.
I agreed with most of her assessments but added one of my own.
“Becoming a teenager,” I told her, “means entering your final training period of learning how to be an adult.”
In many ways, Kim and I have already introduced her to that concept through “coachable moments” in which we share the adult perspective on situations she is already familiar with, such as the importance of being a good citizen in our community.
However, I recently discovered that learning how to be an adult is an ongoing training – and re-training – process.
Take the concept of patience, for example.
During a family trip this month to Omaha, Nebraska, we encountered numerous delays.
Our plane was late arriving from another city. Our flight crew was new to the plane and had to conduct inspections. That sort of stuff.
When we arrived in Omaha at 1:30 am and over an hour late, I was more than ready to get off the plane and into the closest bed I could find. But the plane stopped short of the gate, and our captain announced that there would be a delay due to the temporary unavailability of a ground crew.
I just about lost whatever patience I still had.
“We just flew 467 miles from Chicago but can’t get off this plane because we can’t somehow navigate the last 75 feet to the gate?” I told Kim and Kara.
It was at this point that Kara, who sometimes tells us 15 minutes feels like 300 years, told me I should be more patient.
“Dad,” she said “It’s OK. We’re here safely. They’re not going to leave us on the plane forever.”
I smiled and thanked her for sharing her thoughts on the matter.
While we waited to pull up to the gate, we talked more about patience and how important it is in today’s world. Many of us sometimes struggle with being patient. The pandemic hasn’t helped as we find ourselves impatiently trying to be patient.
It seems that completing our normal day-to-day activities just takes longer. Many businesses, due to staffing struggles and supply chain issues, are feeling the challenges of just being able to open their doors each day. Covid has certainly taken its toll on our collective ability to find our new normal.
We have several opportunities each and every day to be patient. Patient with each other. Patient with the systems in place as our favorite stores and restaurants try to find their way. Patient with our politicians and leaders as they govern our communities. And patient with ourselves.
It’s not always easy, by any means.
Kara is going to face many challenges of her own in her coming teenage years. Kim and I have to be patient with her. We hope for far more successes than failures.
And Kara has to be patient with us and with herself.
After all, we’re safe, and we are not going to be on this plane forever.
The author recently retired after 44 years with Regal Cinemas and is pursuing a new career in business coaching and consulting. He remains active in community service projects and enjoys time with his wife, Kim, and daughter, Kara.
© 2022 Pungo Publishing Co., LLC