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Are We There Yet? When Will We Get there?!
Sep 30 2007


Above image is from AllPosters.com.

The kids and I just got back from visiting my best friend and her family in a town 2 ½ hours drive Southeast (I think) of Austin.  Those who know me probably know  that I’m directionally challenged.  🙂

For the first time in the history of driving to her house, my 5 year old son did not take even the briefest of naps.  He is a non-stop talker.  If you’ve ever seen that car commercial where the girl is talking when her dad puts her in his seat and is still talking after he closes the door and opens his door and starts putting on his seatbelt…that’s our son.

However, on this trip he did spend some time observing the landscape and listening to songs on my new iPod nano (via the car stereo) that I got because Erin recently purchased a new Mac and it came with it.  Consequently, I only heard the phrases “Are we there yet?”  and “When will we get there?” and “Man, that’s a long time!” oh maybe a dozen or so times.  My younger daughter slept through most of the trip.  I eventually told him if he asked me one more time that I wouldn’t let him do XXX.  I can’t even remember what it was that I told him that he couldn’t do.  That helped him bite his tongue for the last say 30 minutes of the ride.  Overall, however, I enjoyed the relative pleasantness of the drive.  

It got me to wondering why we are all so impatient about getting to where it is we are going.  As adults we don’t usually freak out about how long it will take to get to a physical destination because we have a better sense of time than a 5 year old does.  But often we say things like: 

  • When will my company be profitable?
  • When will my daughter be potty trained?
  • When will I close my first big sale?
  • When will I be able to hire someone to help me with this task?
  • When will I get an uninterrupted night of sleep? (a.k.a., when will my son sleep through the night without waking up and/or stay in his own bed?)
  • Are we there (at goal x, y, or z) yet?  Why aren’t we there yet?

The big difference I’ve seen between kids and adults is that when kids do get there they are genuinely excited to have gotten there.  When we arrived at my friend’s house my kids jumped out of the car and immediately wanted to play, swim, swing, etc. with my friend’s son.  Many adults and business people I’ve seen (including myself) get to where they were going, don’t spend enough time excited about getting there, and then start the list of questions over and this time they might be: 

  • When will my company be more profitable than Company X?
  • When will my daughter quit talking back to me?
  • When will I close a multi-million dollar sale?
  • When can I fire this person who really can’t help me with any tasks?
  • When will I get an uninterrupted night of sleep? (a.k.a., when will my son return from that party so I can quit worrying that he’s lying dead in some ditch somewhere?)
  • Are we going to make it to retirement?  Why aren’t we able to retire yet?  Should we retire yet?

Then I think about National Geographic documentaries that show native, aboriginal tribes in certain places around the world.  I always feel that those people seem truly content and if I look into their eyes through the TV glass, I’m 100% sure they don’t have similar questions going through their minds.   Of course they might wonder where they will find their next meal, but they just don’t look stressed about it.  Funny, isn’t it? 💡


p.s. My son was so worn out with all the fun he had that he ended up sleeping about 3/4 of the way on the drive back home!

Author: | Filed under: parenting, random stuff | 11 Comments »

11 Comments on “Are We There Yet? When Will We Get there?!”

  1. 1 justin case said at 1:33 PM on October 1st, 2007:

    Oh my god!. Here in a humble internet blog you just put the finger on the wound of all humanity. That is “I can get no satisfaction” (as some old rocker said once).
    Why are we never content with what we ARE where we are and what we have?.
    I would suggest everyone to ask themselves this question: Am I SATISFIED AND CONTENT with my life AS IT IS? good or bad, problems or not.
    Things that make you go hmmmmmm…..
    * comment by your friendly neighborhood Justin-the spidey- Case.

  2. 2 Gaida said at 12:48 AM on October 2nd, 2007:

    Hi Aruni,
    Great post. Very true about how we need to enjoy every step of our journey, enjoy the moment before pressing onto the next big task.

    Rejoice in every step forward…no matter how small. Remember… Life Is A Journey Not A Destination!

  3. 3 Aruni said at 1:21 PM on October 2nd, 2007:

    Thanks Gaida! It is often hard to keep in mind that it is the journey!

  4. 4 Gaida said at 2:15 PM on October 2nd, 2007:

    Hi Aruni,
    Yes…It’s often hard to have time to even think in our fast paced world.,,It’s so important.. To STOP…Take a breath and enjoy each and every moment.

    “Take Time To Enjoy The Magical Moments!” .. this is especially true if you have children as they grow up so fast and that time can never be regained.

    This is another great saying….

    “This Is Your Life… Not A Dress Rehearsal!”

  5. 5 Jen / domestika said at 6:47 AM on October 9th, 2007:

    Oh, you are so right! We are always in such a hurry to move on to the next stage in our lives… and it isn’t until we’re a good way along that we realize time goes all too quickly as it is.

    Those stupid party years I wasted in my early twenties — what wouldn’t I give to have those back again, to accomplish some of the goals and enjoy some of the adventures that I’m afraid I’ll not have quite enough time for… now that I know how fast those years can zip by!

  6. 6 Aruni said at 1:48 PM on October 9th, 2007:

    Hi Jen – You may just be able to take those ‘stupid party years’ and use the experiences you gained to, in fact, accomplish your goals even faster!

    Don’t be afraid of not having time and just get started…you are already one step ahead of some people who don’t have any goals at all. 🙂

    Every day I have to remind myself to stop and smell the roses (in between the diapers). 😀

    Thanks for stopping by. I hope you continue to visit!

  7. 7 Jen / domestika said at 7:56 PM on October 9th, 2007:

    I like the way you think, Aruni! Yeah, I wasn’t partying my way through the better part of a decade, I was “gathering experience” for a future greater purpose! 😉

  8. 8 entrepreMusings » Parenting a Start-Up and Niños (Kids) - My 2nd Guest Post said at 1:21 PM on October 15th, 2007:

    […] Are We There Yet? When Will We Get There?! […]

  9. 9 Tash said at 1:20 AM on October 28th, 2007:

    Food for thought. It is so true that as small business owners & parents we rarely stop to congratulate ourselves on what we have achieveed.

  10. 10 Aruni said at 8:35 AM on October 29th, 2007:

    Thanks for stopping by Tash and sharing your thoughts!

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