What is it about having to wait for something you really want? It is something I think most of us struggle with. I think one of my mother’s most said sentences to me was, “Be patient, Mark.” I was thinking about patience recently, and the irony of it hit me. When we are young, and we have the most time, we seem to be the least patient. Mind you, as I get older, it still doesn’t come easy. I think the restrictions we have been experiencing in recent months have tested our patience. I think of some of our families who have members of their family overseas and can’t get back, or they can’t travel to. Many of us have family and friends interstate who could really do with our support right now, and we can’t visit. Certain products aren’t available, or we have to wait for ages. There is a saying that says, “Patience is a virtue.” I think it is even more than that. I think it is a necessity. The enormous benefits of teaching our children delayed gratification as a life skill are well documented. I think we are in a prime time right now to model this for them. The skill of being patient, thinking clearly and achieving the desired outcome is something we can teach our children in many everyday experiences at the moment. I would encourage you to “make” those moments.

Today at school, we took part in National Simultaneous Storytime. A time where many of the school children around the country read the same book, at the same time. The book was titled Chicken Divas. It was a great way to encourage our children to read. It also got me thinking about families experiences with chickens. When our children were younger, we had chooks and a rooster. Each year we would let a couple of the hens go “clucky” and sit on some eggs to get some chickens. I loved the excitement and anticipation that built for our girls as they would go and check each day to see if the eggs had hatched. Even better were the squeals of delight that would come from the chook shed when they lifted the hen and little balls of yellow fluff would “peep, peep” in protest. Expecting everything to happen right now, just how we want is an expectation that will make it difficult for our children to grow into resilient teenagers and adults. As author Arnold Glasow put it, “ The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.”

On the topic of patience, can I please ask for your continued patience at drop off and pick up time. It is not easy getting everyone on and off campus each morning/ afternoon, and if you can please follow instructions about which way to turn in and out of school, and plan for an extra 10 or 15 minutes for pick up or wait and come after 3.35 pm (2.50 pm on Fridays), it would be a great help.

I will be taking some leave for the rest of the term and early next term, and Mr Davis and Miss Bernoth will be steering our Prescott Primary Northern ship during that time. Please support them and look after them.

Have a great week with your kids,

Mark B