being comfortable with uncomfortable...

so... here's another one.  back to back.

i think i opened the flood gates on these posts...

The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.

- M. Scott Peck

it seems that we're often helping to make the tears stop... helping to solve the problems... helping to quiet the arguments...

in a life with children, it just comes with the territory.

when leo's uncomfortable with a situation, it can in turn make me uncomfortable.  seeing him cry, seeing him struggle, seeing him in a conflict...

but that discomfort is teaching him.  it's helping him form ideas and solutions.  they're just as useful as the times he's joyfully building with blocks... or contently driving his cars along the floor.

being comfortable with his discomfort gives us both a chance to figure out what to do about it.  or if we have to do anything at all.  without struggle, without tears, without conflict... he has no way to learn from it.  this isn't to say that i sit back and watch as he's in an impossible situation.   i can give him the time he needs to figure it out on his own, or with my help.  i can assure him that his feelings won't be quelled.  i can acknowledge what's happening, what he's feeling, and be supportive while he's there.

and that means i have to be comfortable while we're both uncomfortable.