Kids are way more forgiving than adults. This is a lesson I learned going from teaching students to teaching teachers. Kids may get angry or upset over little things (my 2 year old nephew got mad at me because HE headbutted ME. But he sure got over it quickly), but they can easily forgive (especially when candy is involved) and move on.
I realize that different cultures view time differently. There are cultures who believe all times are suggestions. Then there are cultures that believe if you are on time, you are late.
My family and I fall in the middle. And by the middle I mean on-time is a Unicorn that we know exists, even if we haven't experienced it.
The title incident happened one Saturday. (I really think at this point he should have known my times were suggestions). I had an itinerary set for the day which included Yoga, lunch, Go Karting, outlet shopping and dinner. The problem started when I forgot my friend Jennifer would be over to finish the flooring in the basement that has been unfinished for longer than it has been finished. She knows me and when it snowed texted me to tell me to leave 15 minutes early for yoga. It took way longer than I thought which put us leaving a LOT later than I had planned. The Brit and I were disagreeing a lot then (we have worked it out) and so he was in a bad mood and Finn was in a bad mood and everybody was in a bad mood.
I forget. I forget he is in a different country with a different set of rules and expectations. I forget that sometimes, it's the littlest things that remind us of, make us miss, and make us appreciate home.
In the end, we had a great time. And I learned about his need for schedules. He learned my need for adventure over-rides schedules. Unless I get overwhelmed. Then I need a schedule.
He still asks me for an hourly itinerary every weekend and most days. We are very busy people (last weekend we threw a small party Friday night, did yoga, cleaning, Skyping, shopping, errands and dinner Saturday, then went to my mom and dads for birthday party Sunday. (Oh, and my cousin called with last minute tickets to Meghan Trainor and I TOTALLY WENT TO THAT.) On weekends we have Lily, a lot of time is spent crafting and creating.
I tried to explain that 7:00 means 7-ish. I thought we had both learned our lesson. But then last week, he was late to school. And it was all my fault. From this he learned I am not an adult. I need count downs every morning. I may never grow out of this. He will never grow out of being on time. Not that I want him too.
In the end, he forgave me, for messing up the itinerary and for making him late to school. It will happen again (there's an over-under for how many times it will happen again if you want in.)
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