Hurricane Mary: One Stressed Out Mama

My friend, Mary,  came home tonight after a long day to a messy kitchen.  Walking past her husband and kids, she immediately started cleaning.  Wiping down counters.  Cleaning off plates of food. Emptying the trash. Sweeping the floor. The whole time complaining, and muttering to herself.

“Why can’t you guys clean up after yourselves?”

Mary yelled to her oldest daughter, Jane. “Do you really have to leave all of your school books on the counter? Why can’t you clean up after yourself?”

Jane hurried to clean up her stuff. Not making eye contact with her mother, she wanted to get in and out as soon as possible. 

Mary’s rant lasted a few more minutes, and just as quickly as it started it was over.  She realized that she had neglected to say a kind word to anyone when she walked in the door.  And in that moment she felt horrible as she climbed the stairs to her bedroom.