Monday, January 1, 2001
Richard is having a hard time with Jared and me getting along. Richard made fun of me, and Jared laughed. Before I knew it, they were ganging up on me. I was angry and hurt. I didn’t want them to see me cry. I went on my treadmill to work off some steam.
As I was running, I thought I couldn’t let them get away with it! I dried my tears and stopped the treadmill. Then I told Jared to sit on the couch while I went to get his dad, because I needed to talk to both of them.
When Jared and Richard sat down, I was angry and not about to back down. I let Richard know I wouldn’t tolerate his behavior toward me. I told him that the way he was treating me was wrong! Someday, when Jared gets a wife, he will think this behavior is okay. I said several other things that were on my mind. Then I told them that they owed me an apology. Jared looked down, and Richard was at a loss for words. I could tell they were uncomfortable, but I stood my ground. When they had apologized, I walked away.
Wednesday, January 10, 2001
This evening, we had our monthly meeting with Mark, our family counselor. Now that I see things in a different light, I wonder how the session will go!
Just like all the other times, Mark told me I was a terrible mom and wife, and that was why Richard and Jared had treated me the way they had. It was my own fault. I need to change and do better. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! He was sabotaging everything I had tried to achieve this week.
I couldn’t let the counselor get away with what he had said. I stood up and looked him straight in the eyes. It was as if I had an army of people standing with me. I felt strength beyond my own. Then I said, “You may have a degree in family counseling, but it’s clear that you have no idea what you’re doing!” I said a whole lot of other things. After I had given him a piece of my mind, I told him we would no longer be seeing him and walked off.
Jared followed me. When we got to the van, Jared said to me, “Wow, Mom, I have never seen you stand up to anyone like that!” Jared was glad I had spoken up because he didn’t think what Mark had said to me was right.
Jared said, “I can’t believe Dad didn’t walk out with us! He should have supported you!” I agreed. I was grateful Jared understood what had happened was wrong.
After almost an hour, Richard came to the car. Neither Jared nor I could believe that after the way Mark had treated me, Richard went ahead and finished the session.
When we got home, Jared asked me if it was okay for him to go and hang out with his friends. I told him it was fine. A neighbor was watching Sarah, Laila, and Johny for me while we had been gone and wasn’t going to bring them back until later this evening.
I tried to talk to Richard about what had happened with the counselor. Richard told me it was my fault that we had to go see him in the first place! Then he said he needed to do his Home Teaching.
I was so upset that he had left. He goes to visit the family he’s been assigned to, to see if they need anything, when he should be home to fix his own.
I cried harder than I had in a long time. I pleaded with Heavenly Father to help me get through this difficult time.
Leave a Reply