What's the rush?

This term I got out my bag of very lovely finger puppets which I haven't used for a few years.  Children have been delighted to meet them for the first time, or renew their acquaintance!  
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In a lesson today a five year old child was doing a 'lucky dip' into the bag and really enjoying looking at each puppet that was going to help her with her learning.  I noticed my desire to hurry her along in this process because we needed to get onto the actual learning activity.  Did we really need to get onto it in such a hurry, would a minute taken to look at the puppets and enjoy that moment really have caused a delay to the lesson?  I don't think so. ​​

I can't remember if I did hurry her but I do know I noticed the desire to rush her and later in the lesson I know I slowed down so she could enjoy and be in the moment she was in. 

As I reflected on my morning's teaching afterwards I realised that children inhabit the present moment naturally.  They are so often absorbed in the present moment.  How often do we, as adults interrupt that?
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I thought to myself that we, as adults, are teaching them that this moment is not good enough.  This is not the moment we should be in, we need to be in the next moment, doing the next activity.  Whether this is playing the piano, hurrying up so we can get out the house or whatever else it is we want to be getting onto.  ​

Many of us are always hurrying children onto the next activity; then we wonder why, at a later date, they always want to be onto the next thing, why they are never satisfied with what they are doing right now.  We often find this at a moment when we have spent a large sum of money on an activity, or arranged something that has cost us much effort.  They want the next thing because that's what we've taught them to want!  In all our rushing to get things done, teach them as much as possible, cram as much as possible into their lives so they don't miss an opportunity, we are teaching them that what they have now or what they are doing now isn't enough.  ​

Many of us are always hurrying children onto the next activity; then we wonder why, at a later date, they always want to be onto the next thing.... because that's what we've taught them! 

So from today I will make a conscious effort to slow down in my teaching.  To allow children to be in the moment; to be absorbed in the activity we are doing now.  I will take that extra couple of minutes which will be a special time where I too can notice the moment, be in it with the child and enjoy watching their experience unfold.  Their learning and their experience and memories of piano will be all the richer for it.  
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Here's poem I wrote about a year ago when I first noticed I am always in a rush for the next thing and began to wonder why.  I'm grateful for the reminder from this student to just slow down.

Rush Rush Hurry Hurry
Always there; never here.
Rush Rush Hurry Hurry
Something different, something better.
Rush Rush, Hurry Hurry
This is never good enough.
Rush Rush Hurry Hurry
Let's slow down and be, just here.