I'm always telling my husband that communication helps limit the overreactions and the drama. Sometimes the communication he provides is effective and sometimes it creates a larger more out of control reaction from me.
For example.
At the end of my work day yesterday I just wanted to be home. I just wanted to get home as fast as I could to see my family and eat (not necessarily in that order ... I was really hungry). So I sent Curtis a text asking if he could pick me up.
He responded with:
"No walk I have the boys"
This struck me as being a bit on the cold side so I pleasantly responded with:
"OK. Are u OK?
His unhelpfully brief response to that question was:
"Ya I will talk to you when you get home"
Now a normal person would see that response and smile and enjoy walking home in the sunshine after a long day stuck behind a desk, imagining a quiet lovely evening at home with the family. I am not a normal person ...
I completely freak out.
I'm convinced in an instant that there is something horribly wrong. And, because Curtis has said he's OK, it must be something else ... unless he's lying to me ...
And then the scenarios begin.
Scenario #1:
One of the boys must have some gaping head wound. There is probably a great deal of blood loss.
But I quickly dismiss that scenario because if there was some huge bloody emergency at home, I'm certain that Curtis would not have said "I will talk to you when you get home" I'm sure he would have said "I will meet you at Sick Kids in five minutes ... the only reason I'm texting you back is because we are waiting for the ambulance" So I relax a little.
Then ....
Scenario #2:
Some outrageous damage happened to the house during the day. Maybe the big tree in the backyard FELL on the house and smashed our sliding doors.
But again, I think this is probably a silly assumption. Curtis probably would have mentioned a tree in the living room.
I'm still panicking a bit so I decide to call him as I walk home. Talking to him will ease my mind a bit and calm my racing heart. And since I'm having difficulty breathing, some calming words of assurance will keep me from collapsing on the sidewalk.
So I call. And there is no answer. NO ANSWER.
So of course ...
Scenario #3:
There is some crazy crackhead in my house and he has my family at gun point. He is currently disconnecting the computer and stereo and PVR so he can sell them for drugs. That must be it. It totally explains the short texts and the reason my husband couldn't answer the phone.
I can't dismiss this thought ... it's too real in my head. So instead I try to walk faster but thanks to the above mentioned scenario, my legs now have the strength of Jello wrapped in cellophane and I'm unable to move at a faster pace. I can barely walk.
And before I can compose myself, another thought hits me:
Scenario #4:
Curtis is home and everything is relatively fine. Except that the boys are wild and running around and screaming and Curtis has decided that he's had enough. He is no longer able to stay in this crazy house and is packing his things to leave.
I'm fairly certain that Curtis wouldn't want to leave without some kind of warning. But I still can't shake the feeling of doom that has consumed me.
There was something wrong. I could just feel it.
And then ...
I was almost home when I noticed a familiar person riding a familiar bike with a familiar child in his arms. The child was shouting, "Mommy look! I'm with Grandpa. I'm with Grandpa!"
It took me a moment to shake off my state of despair and allow feelings of relief wash over me.
There was nothing wrong at home. The boys were fine. Curtis was fine. My in-laws were there and Curtis was just visiting with them. Bruce Lee was riding around on a bike with his Grandpa and Jackie Chan was in the living room (sans tree) bouncing around and chattering about eating freezes at lunch (which would explain the bouncing around).
All was well.
No overreaction necessary.
I did, however, scold Curtis for not being more clear with his texting because - obviously - it was his lack of communication that caused the string of horrible scenarios in my head. Obviously.
And told him that he should be more clear in the future.
He just smiled and said OK.
He's the best.
No comments:
Post a Comment