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This week (today) tested me… and it’s Monday.
Disrespect has a way of finding the exact button that will light you up. Sometimes it’s not even the act itself. It’s the pattern, and the buildup; the feeling of being dismissed in your own home.
I overreacted, loudly, and took my frustration out on inanimate objects in the moment - one minute and eight seconds of letting emotion drive instead of discipline. No excuses, just facts.
What’s hitting me in the aftermath isn’t guilt. It’s clarity.
Strength isn’t proven in the moment we explode. It’s proven in how quickly we regain control, own our reaction, and reset the environment, especially when kids are watching. They always are.
After things settled, my youngest came and sat next to me…no words…he just wanted to be near me. And it reminded me of something important:
We aren’t defined by one bad moment.
But we are defined by our patterns.
The real work isn’t pretending we never fail. I don’t know anyone in my circle that hasn’t…It’s breaking the cycle before it becomes who we are, or changing the pattern to break the cycle.
Reflection question:
When you feel disrespected, by your kids, your spouse, or anyone else, what usually happens next? Why does disrespect from inside your own home hit differently than from the outside world? And what would it look like to interrupt that pattern before it runs you?
I’m open to suggestions and input…Lord knows I fail.
Share if you want.
Honesty, especially with yourself, counts