The Beauty of Repetition
How many times have you watched that now?
Like many 12 year olds, my daughter struggled to wake on a dark wet morning for school.
To ‘soften’ the early start I said that after breakfast and getting dressed she could watch something for ten minutes before school.
I knew exactly what she would watch and I was right. She watched the same episode of her current favourite programme for the 23rd time.
As I walked her to school she asked if I had remembered her book.
Due to current restrictions the school library is closed and she’s loving taking books from home.
She’s currently reading one she’s already read at least 3 times.
I assured her the book was there and I mentioned casually about the fact she’d already read the book.
‘But that makes it even better mum! I no longer stress about what might happen next. You know the cliff hanger bits? So then I can really enjoy the story without the stress. And each time I read it again I find something new. Anyway, I like it.’
It got me thinking as I walked home myself. How often as an adult do I book the same place for a holiday because I now know my way around and don’t need to stress where everything is?
And even when we have been somewhere before, we still often find somewhere new that we didn’t find the time before.
We can be so quick to see repetition as a negative thing.
We often refer to autistics as being ‘stuck’ on something just because they watch it over and over, say it over and over or do it over and over.
But repetition for many can bring comfort, reassurance and enjoyment.
Maybe it’s time to rewatch something you love or reread a favourite novel today.
There’s definitely something wonderful about familiarity.
Written by, Miriam Gwynne
Miriam, a woman of faith from Scotland, is mum to autistic twins and wife to an autistic husband. A former teacher and business manager she now cares full time for her children while writing for her own blog and other sites including firefly, family fund, autism awareness dot com and Huffington post. Miriam’s writing is read in over 60 countries and she has appeared on national radio and television in her quest to make the world more accepting and understanding of her children and husband and the millions like them.
Her own blog can be found at www.faithmummy.wordpress.com. Or you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.
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