Always in a hurry?
April 20, 2025
The Strength in the Waiting: How Patience Made Me a Wiser Woman, Mother, and Wife
When I was little, the adults around me loved to say, “Patience is a virtue.” Usually, this came when I was squirming with anticipation, tapping my foot at a red light, or complaining about how long something was taking. And I tried—really, I did—to be patient. But I wasn’t great at it. I wanted what I wanted, and I wanted it now.
The irony? It wasn’t until I became a mother that I truly understood what patience actually is.
Turns out, patience isn’t about gritting your teeth and waiting. It’s about surrender. It’s about trust. It’s about letting go of control and allowing life to unfold at its own rhythm—which is almost always different than the one we have planned.
My children have been my greatest teachers in this regard.
When they were little and we were rushing out the door, I remember the internal tug-of-war every time one of them insisted on putting on their own shoes. Watching those tiny fingers fumble with laces while I mentally calculated how late we were going to be…it took everything in me not to step in and “fix it.” But something deeper whispered, let them try. And in that space of waiting—of breathing deeply and loosening my grip—I started to learn the art of patience.
Then came the teen years, when I had to hold back my instinct to rescue. Watching them stumble through managing their own money, balancing school with newfound independence, and figuring out life on their terms—it was brutal at times. I knew better. I could see the shortcuts, the detours, the easy fixes. But my role wasn’t to do it for them. It was to stand steady, trust life, and hold space while they learned how to navigate on their own.
What no one tells you is that patience requires strength. A deep, quiet strength. Because letting go isn’t passive. It’s active. It’s choosing every day to step back even when your heart wants to jump in. It’s choosing to trust life’s timeline over your own.
Patience has also shaped my marriage. In moments when my husband and I have been at odds or moving at different speeds, patience has been my anchor. Instead of forcing harmony or demanding change, I’ve learned to wait and to listen—not just to him, but to myself and the deeper wisdom of the relationship. Over time, this has made me stronger, more grounded, and far less reactive. I’ve stopped needing immediate resolution or quick fixes. I trust the unfolding.
The truth is, there is no rushing when it comes to parenting, relationships, or personal evolution. Life moves at its own pace, and every experience—even the uncomfortable, slow ones—has its place in the larger tapestry.
Looking back, I see how patience has empowered me. It has made me wiser. It has deepened my faith—in myself, in my loved ones, and in the mysterious rhythm of life itself.
So now, when someone says, “Patience is a virtue,” I smile. Because I know that patience is more than a virtue—it’s a skill, a muscle, a spiritual practice. One that has helped me show up as a stronger woman, mother, and wife.
And if I’m honest, I’m still learning. Every day.
in trust and gratitude,
Annmarie Chereso
Author, Speaker, Coach, & Meditation Teacher