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by Chris Lowrey
Isn't it funny how a stranger can bring out the best in us and yet the people we love the most gets stuck with our bad moods and the behavior that follows?
We tell ourselves it is because we are most comfortable around the ones who know us and love us. We even think it is actually a compliment that we are "ourselves" around our close family and friends and we don't have to pretend to be someone we aren't. But, is that really fair?
Example: We have had a horrible day at the office. We walk in our front door to be greeted by the people we love the most. Instead of sharing what was right about our day, we share with them all of our woes and sorrows. Not only do we babble on negatively, we forget to smile both with our lips and words. We slump into the kitchen and begin the overwhelming task of dinner and laundry. Our kids are rambling on about their adventures of the day, our spouse is filling our ears with their news and yet we hardly hear a word. We have absolutely tuned them out. We just don't have the energy. And yet, when we run to the grocery store to grab the gallon of milk so we can complete our dinner, we smile ever so sweetly and speak wonderfully kind words to the person behind us in line. Why is that?
I guess you can call it human behavior. We tend to trust that the people we love the most will allow us our weaknesses without any permanent damage. We can "be ourselves" around our family, which can mean the good, the bad and the downright ugly.
What if we spent some time focusing on our priorities? When we walk out of the office and anxiously guide ourselves home, let us remember that it is our love ones that deserve our best. Not to imply that we should treat strangers or acquaintances badly, we should just treat our loved ones better. Try finding your balance on your trip home. Maybe you have a favorite song that always lightens your spirit or you need total peace and quiet before you get home so you turn off the radio and open your windows for some fresh air. Or, do you need a few minutes alone right when you step in your door to set straight your priorities? Whatever brings you peace and puts you in an "I am so very blessed" mood, make that a must.
However, at no time should we feel we are becoming robots either. We cannot always be in a good mood. We cannot always hide our frustrations. We cannot always walk around with a smile plastered on our faces. At times we need to relax and just let it all out. But, we mustn't make a habit of it! Make a conscience effort to pick and choose when we relieve ourselves of our negative emotions and the rest of the time, let's show the people that we love the most that we truly appreciate them and let them have the best we have to offer.
Chris Lowrey lives with her husband and children in Madison, Wisconsin. A mother of four sons and two step-children as well as Editor/Author of Family Time Charm, she commits herself to improving the lives of families and children. For more parent articles, free entertaining stories for children and fun activities for the entire family, visit: www.familytimecharm.com
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