Saturday was a rainy one; it was also David's first day of being gone every weekend in June for a metaphysical workshop of some sort. I ask Annie to help me clean the apartment and as usual, she gives me a hard time. She complains how awful her life is, how bored she is, and how I never let her do anything fun. After a rather expensive few days n the mountains, a trip I made for her, I become slightly irritated. I tell her if she refuses to help me around the house I’ll have to give her a punishment. Then, as usual, she bursts into tears. I let a few minutes pass then I ask her again to start her chores.
Annie: “My God! I don’t even have any space to express my emotions!"
She cries for a few more minutes.
Me: “Okay Annie, I think you’ve expressed your emotions long enough, it’s time to start cleaning.”
Annie: “Id rather vote for George BUSH than have you as a parent! You ruin my life.”
The voting for George Bush part is just too much; I'm forced to send her to her room for that.
About 15 minutes later I get a note under my bedroom door that reads, “What I want our house to be…Smiles, Happiness, Love.
I go into her room and I’m smiling. I say, “Here’s a smile so that means happiness, and we already have love so really, you have everything you want."
Annie: “I just wish you’d have a little empathy for me.”
Me: “What do you mean?”
Annie: “Do you know what empathy is?”
Me: “I do.”
Annie: “It means that you should try and put yourself in my shoes and feel how I feel.”
Me: “But I think you have a pretty good life. I don’t feel bad for you.”
Annie smiles, goes into the living room and happily starts cleaning.
No comments:
Post a Comment