As we continue to navigate being together 24/7 during COVID-19, the storm clouds always seem to be brewing around here. And what I’m finding is that I can make any storm more intense both by staying in it, and by making the issue about my hurt feelings rather than someone else’s frustration.
When a member of our family is going through ‘a thing,’ my reaction to them can make things worse. Voicing my opinion, questioning them, sarcasm, judgement—these are all ways I can make things harder on myself and the person who’s frustrated or unhappy.
Two things I’ve learned:
1. I can’t control lightning.
2. I don’t have to stay in a storm.
While I can offer love and compassion, there are a lot of times these days when I’m entirely compassioned-out. Often, the most caring thing I can do right now is back off. Walk away. And while we’re on the topic, it’s not a bad idea for me to warn others when I feel a storm brewing in me. “TeamDe, you best get those cute little behinds to safety ’cause Mama’s gonna blow.”