Patience Is A Virtue...

...that I have yet to master.
Especially in the mornings.

I mean, what is it about kids prevent them from having any time management?! When I say, "Okay, let's go put our things packed up and our shoes on" ten minutes before we actually need to be ready to go, I at least expect--or my like hope, these days-- to be walking out the door in ten minutes... or even 15 for that matter! But things don't seem to work like that in this house.
Especially with one child in particular.

And it's funny how the roads are always conveniently congested on these same days. I've learned that the freeway we take to school is pretty much Alcoa Highway* of The Netherlands. So through fog, rain, sleet, or snow, you are likely destined guaranteed to run into traffic. (FYI, I've yet to actually witness sleet or snow here. But if/when I do, there will be traffic!)
Especially if we're already running late.
*Knoxville, TN reference.

So by the time we make it to school on these days, it is usually 8:25 or a minute or two after. (I think it is important you realize that 8:25 is the exact time the kids' school starts.) And in keeping up the snail's pace, the kids never want to get out of the car in a brisk manner.
Especially that same one kid in particular.

And as you can imagine, I am just thrilled at this point of the morning*. My one cup of morning coffee is usually already wearing off and my nerves are usually wearing thin. So after the kids finally exit the vehicle, I am ready to get home as fast as I can to crawl back in bed. But how can I get home quickly when all the streets are practically all of a lane-and-a-half wide?! Granted that may not sounds so bad, but keep in mind that on these skinny two-way streets, there are also parked cars on at least one side of the street--if not both. Oh, and don't forget that there are also going to be at least a dozen people in bikes also on these streets that you'll have to dodge! There will always be bikers...
Especially in your way.
*Sense the sarcasm.

So yeah, what was that about patience?
...Cause this post is just taking too long.