This is our new family motto.
Well, when I use the word family, I am actually referring to just me.
IJ is reasonably calm most of the time; I am the one who is not. I have turned into what can only be described as a stress-head. Others may come up with less polite terms, I'm sure!
My usual mode of operating (as shown in diagramatic form) is being replaced, for good reason.
I think I may have finally worked out why IJ is repeatedly telling me that she does not want to be an adult. Her concerns about growing up have been going on since the beginning of the year.
Yesterday she was worried that she was going to be an adult in 18 days time.
"No! When you are eighteen years old, not in eighteen days time!" I told her, resisting the temptation to start pulling my hair out.
And then it hit me - it could be that she does not want to be an adult because the adult she spends most time with is not making adulthood seem very pretty. She is seeing me rushing round trying to get everything done, stressing about work, stressing about my studies, stressing about money, the housework, the laundry, and being, quite frankly, grumpy and irritable.
She doesn't see me relax and unwind in the evenings, not that it happens that often, but I'm guessing that the times I am most calm she is asleep and so doesn't see it.
I am not making adulthood appear a very attractive option. No wonder she doesn't want to grow up.
So from now on I will keep calm and carry on, then I'll wait and see what happens.
