Nathan Exposed » Don’t Be Cruel

Don’t Be Cruel

Why is it so easy to be mean to those we love the most? Once we get comfortable, that wall of self censorship completely disappears.

I’ll give you a perfect example. I like to have lights on. Bright lights that you can see from the next town over.

Rodney hates lights. His eyes are very sensitive to them, so he likes me to turn them off whenever possible.

Tonight, I left the kitchen light on. I was in the living room, but I left the light on anyway because I like for it to pour in.

Rodney poked his head downstairs and said “Why is the kitchen light on?”

“Because I want it on,” I replied. I’m ashamed to admit, but that’s a terribly sarcastic, even childish response. My Dad talks the same way to my Mom. I don’t like it when he does that, and now I do the same thing to Rodney.

What I should have said was “Well, honey, I like for it to be on and since you’re upstairs, I figured it wouldn’t bother your eyes.”

Next time I start to say something rude to someone I love, I’ll pretend they are someone I’ve just met and show all the charm and warmth that I provide to perfect strangers. I’ll work on this.

UPDATE: Tonight Rodney asked me why I switched the cat bowls. “Because I wanted to…” I replied, quickly catching myself. I corrected myself by explaining why the other one was better, and he noticed.

Thu, Oct 18, 2007 @ 2:53 am | Filed in Family | Permalink

7 Comments

I think this is something we have in common…it’s a terrible habit of mine (the snickery bitchy response, I mean)…

Posted by DanNation on Thu, Oct 18, 2007 @ 3:04 am

im great with the snickery bitchy responses.

Posted by chris on Thu, Oct 18, 2007 @ 1:13 pm

Yeah, “snickery bitchy responses” are a trait of mine also.

Definitely a good idea about thinking of them like someone you just met and showing them the same courtesy.

Posted by Ben on Thu, Oct 18, 2007 @ 2:19 pm

I know you’re not really bitchy so I’m sure your hubby understands. As for leaving the lights on, I’m not even going to start in on the whole waste of energy and your carbon imprint snicker, snicker

Posted by TJ on Thu, Oct 18, 2007 @ 3:23 pm

I think you have to be a snark-ass bitch to even receive your copy of the Gay Agenda, don’t you?

Posted by Howard on Thu, Oct 18, 2007 @ 4:22 pm

I often wonder about the way we can treat people we love badly, when we really should keep that in for the nasty people we sometimes run into.

Liked your video post as well!

Steven

Posted by Steven on Thu, Oct 18, 2007 @ 5:22 pm

I do that a lot. When I first meet a guy, I cater to their needs, but then as time progresses I seem to stop. It’s as if once I got them hooked, I feel I no longer have go out of my way to do anything for them. The caring attitude and thoughtfulness just vanishes. Why is it that we do that?

Posted by Frank on Thu, Oct 18, 2007 @ 10:51 pm