I moved through the kitchen banging pots and slamming cupboards and when one of my children asked me something, the cork holding my anger inside popped and I spoke harshly in response to whatever they were asking.
It was a normal day in our house, as far as I can remember. These days normal is different than past days. I have a part-time job that keeps me occupied five hours a day outside of the house while my husband continues his full-time job three days a week. We’ve been doing this for a couple of months now and we are not always handling it well. I think what had gotten to me on this day was that I was in the midst of making dinner but all I could see with my eyes were the things that still needed to be done. Dirty dishes had piled up. The right kinds of clothes had not been washed. I was feeling overwhelmed and I could have saved myself the blow-up if only I had been willing to utter those three little words:
I need help.
Ben White via Unsplash
Read the rest of this post over at Putting on the New where I write on the 12th of each month.
Hi …i was writing you a comment but got disconnecting. Starting over again. I understand you getting upset about the dishes and the laundry. It happens to us too even with all the kids grown and out of the house. It’s just a part of life. In busy times or holiday times or someone is sick or stressful times there is always dishes and laundry that needs to be taken care of but doesn’t always get done in a timely fashion. So don’t feel bad about that but I just want to caution you watch your words for your children’s sake. They don’t know that Mom is mad about the dishes or laundry or whatever else crops up and needs to be done. They take it personally when you harshly react and I can’t tell you how much that effects children who you are trying to raise to be kind, thoughtful, and responsible so I just want to tell you not to hurt their feelings because that’s what it does. It creates doubts in them. And trust issues? What about if they become afraid to be around you when you are cranky? Just speaking from personal experience. I hope you will take this kindheartedly and not in a criticism sort of way
Take care…Mary