Can you afford to be late?
Too late
‘Sorry we’re late, Doctor.’ Ronny rushes into the office, pulling his young son by the hand.
The psychiatrist points to the clock. ‘That is the third time in a row that you have been late.’
‘We missed our connection for the second bus.’ Ronny plops into the chair and pulls the little boy onto his lap. ‘Since my ex took the car, I have to take public transport, and I’m still finding my way with it.’
‘For once, I would overlook that,’ the psychiatrist interrupts him. ‘But you always have a different explanation. I have to stick to my appointments, too.’
‘We’ll definitely be on time next time,’ Ronny mutters.
‘I’m counting on that, but I cannot ignore this behavior. You are here for a psychiatric evaluation regarding custody in a divorce case. Constantly being late shows me that, as a parent, you are unable to provide much structure for your vulnerable child.’
The psychiatrist stands up and leads Ronny and his son to the door. ‘It’s unfortunate for you, but I will have to report this to the judge.’
How important is it for you to be on time?
What can cause someone to be late, despite good intentions?
Which things in your life happen automatically because you know the way, the rules, and the system?
How would you feel if being late had major consequences for you or your family?
Do you ever stop to think about this?
Did you know?
Depending on the situation, being late can do little harm or have major consequences. For some, being on time is a matter of respect. Others cannot manage to be on time, no matter what they do. Still, waiting can be annoying, both for the person who is late and for the person who is waiting.
Context also plays an important role here. When there is an unequal relationship, being late is more quickly perceived as negative. Think, for example, of a doctor who expects you to be present fifteen minutes in advance, but starts the appointment half an hour late without much explanation. Or a student who arrives late to class and is reprimanded for it, while the teacher themselves regularly starts late. What is seen as unacceptable in one case is not a problem in another.