Process Verses Outcome

 "Mum, but you promised! I want to learn to sew."

I've been promising the girls a sewing lesson for most of the holidays.

This being almost the last day I had to honor that commitment.

 I must be honest and say I didn't do it with good grace.

Despite a degree in Education and 10 years in schools,

I can be rather impatient when teaching my own.

  Rose did choose something way beyond her skill level.

I had Mother Gothel singing in my head, "Mother Knows best, take it from me..."
So in an effort, not to be the manipulative mother, I reluctantly agreed to Rose's project choice.

Rose got very frustrated when things didn't go to plan.

Fur fabric is not the easiest of materials to work with.

After a few tears, we managed to get to the end.

 Did Rose or I enjoy the process? 

I'd say not.

Does Rose enjoy the outcome?

I think so.

Were all the tears and frustrations worth it?

I'm not sure. 

I would of preferred the easy option.

 There are lots of things I do that I enjoy the process of.

And many things I don't. Like gathering.

I do the less enjoyable tasks to get an enjoyable outcome.

I like a clean kitchen, but don't enjoy the cleaning.

I like fresh sheets on the bed, but don't enjoy stripping and washing the sheets.

Maybe I need to learn to enjoy and value the process more.

As a Maths teacher I spent a lot of time telling students 

that the working out is as important as the right answer.

Maybe I should take my own advice.

Fern chose a less challenging project, a pair of shorts.

She is thrilled with the outcome and her process was a lot easier than Rose's.

I'm an outcome junkie.

I love the feeling of finishing.

Parenting is hard for me, I don't get an outcome at the end of the day.

Parenting really is all about the process.

The outcome I'll not see until my own children are raising my grandkids.

I really do need to become more process focused and less outcome driven.

Taking time to be in the moment.

Less of a sprinter and more of a marathon runner.