Levity is always good. In survival classes, I learned that two of the top things that survivors had was:
a.) Accepted the reality of their situation. b.) Maintained a sense of humor, even if a wee bit "dark".
Looks like we're doing something right here...
I made an awesome T-day dinner, except I bought the pies this year, just felt I wanted that little bit of relief.
W was depressed and "off", so she went into her work to prep more for the big sale today, get more merchandise on the floor. She left her mobile at home charging. She called when she got there, wanting me to be sure to tell S3 that she was sorry she didnt say good-bye. I called her a couple times to ask if I could use "X" or "Y" in the meal. She picked up the second time and told me that when I first called the first time, she was on a couch in the store, sleeping/crying. I showed empathy. I wanted to have the dinner earlier, but she wanted it later, so, hey no problem, I can adjust. When I ended the convo I just said " See you when you get here..." No "parental reminders" or anything like I used to do.
So dinner time rolls around, she is on time (normally she is "last minute"/late kind of person, and I am "if you're 5 minutes early, you're late" kind of person). She still not in a great place, but she was trying so hard...then her and S1 got into it about letting the dog in during the meal. I, stupidly, intervened, because as S1 was "right", his delivery was awful and was not sitting well at all with W. I saw right where this was heading....So I tried to say, in a W friendly fashion, what s1 was saying...I am fairly sure she felt ganged up on, but that's mindreading from the past things she has said...she left and went to the bathroom for the whole meal.
But dinner went on as normal. S1 had a couple friends over, so us 6 boys ate a mess of food, joked, laughed...naturally, with 6 boys all together, I had to re-direct some of the convos sliding quickly downhill... lmao!
Later, I had yet another talk with S1 about how to talk with Mom. And when she did come out she was laying on the couch, and I went and apologized to her, saying I was wrong to get in the middle, etc.
But, it wasn't bad overall, at all. Certainly better than the first T-day during mlc 2 years ago, last years' I don't really remember, I think I was worn-out from the cooking, and my work always gets busy before the holidays with customers making last changes before they leave things alone through the holidays.
So, 3rd mlc holiday season almost done...whoop!
In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. - Albert Camus
Uncertainty is the very condition which impels people to unfold their powers.-Eric Fromm
