How do you spell that?
Need to think here. Ironically, I've had nothing to say for my blog, but I'm talking too much at home. Slava says "I talk but don't listen". Fair. Slava also timed me at 62 seconds yesterday as the longest time I was quiet. Fair.
And I'm in defensive mode so bear with myself here. I saw him writing on his arm and decided to stay quiet about it. Bit my tongue. I had just commented on the fact that the grocery list wasn't being used, and that's at least the 3rd time I've asked for that to be done and according to my own rule - 3 is the end. But I don't end. So much to unpack here.
Yesterdays I was listening to JBP and the Flood. The Chaos when the rug is pulled out from under you. How prepared are you for the Flood? How will you respond? What will you learn in the Underworld, because there's information there to inform you, and get you into formation.
Some chaos appeared, and herein I unpack it. And set myself straight.
Lev said the above things about slava this morning, after I'd repeatedly asked him to get out of bed and he didn't. Nagging. Of course I'm hurt and defensive, but readily admit that I'm so fucking tired of talking. Then why do I keep talking?!
Signs: Other day in car, Aurora asked to listen to music. It was a relief, I could think about something else during music. I joked to myself that maybe that's her way of saying she doesn't want to hear me talk. I didn't follow up on that thought, but I should! There was a sign - I didn't heed it! The information: they're OK with music, I had the idea that they didn't like it.
But wait on this - you're missing a point here. Why do you feel the need to fill space with talking?! Hmmm. That's the real issue too. I fill space with talking. I talk to myself. I talk to Nova. I talk. That can change, I talk outload as a way to connect (or so I tell myself) but just dial it back.
What happens in the car? A Backwoods Girls effect. I'm fully aware of it, often rein it in. But no enough. I get....stuck in thinking. OK, information. I don't need to fill that time in the car. Just play music. Or sit there, drive. Remember the day we bought the wardrobe, and I marveled at how LA and slava could enjoy the silence? And I followed suit and stayed quiet. I liked it!
I fill out a Weekly calendar page with stuff to do during the day. Water plants, bird feeders, kombucha, practice music. Slava had asked why I do it. I said, it helps me plan. But no one really does what I write! It's like talking to empty space. So, information. I took away the page and I'll stop doing it.
I keep asking for things to be done, and they don't get done. Here especially the nagging starts. I have the 3 times rule, but I'm breaking it. Refill the water pitcher. Put dishes away. Is this item ready to be put back? Why is there a mess on the counter. (all things I say on a regular basis). Yet this and so much more continues to happen. So, I mention (NAG) it again. I realize now that I was in a cycle of repeating these things to no improvement, so I'd nag more - and it's not working. That's information. Just stop mentioning it, because it's not changing anyway.
I get frustrated that I make the family calendar that no one uses. I make meals that no one asks for. I make lunches I don't get thanked for. The realization - no one is asking for these things. I can stop doing them. ?
I ask in Chat that people quit piling breakable dishes. I didn't work verbally, so I switched to Chat. Think about that!! It's a nag. I asked in Chat to find clay tools. I'd asked verbally. He hasn't looked. That's simple, he doesn't get clay tools. I ask for finance pages to be filled out. They don't get filled out. That's easy. No buying and no interest on the account. I'm nagging them to do these things, and they don't, and why then do I keep nagging. That's information.
Now, is it retaliation to hold the line and say, no interest and no tools and no etc because you didn't do as asked? Think on that... They are old enough and I asked and dangled the carrot. They lose the carrot, that's all. And I lose the need to nag.
Ironically, at work I'm known for being quiet and reserved.
The Backwoods Girls effect. Yeah, I hear myself doing it and it sucks. I have the simultaneous feeling of not wanting to say it, yet I'm saying it anyway. I'm so much better and stopping and not even starting lately, but I'm still doing it. So, information, if you don't want to say it then don't.
I ask them to practice music, but aurora doesn't. Now this is definitely a nag on my part, but I'm fucking PAYING FOR THIS and taking time away from work and I thought we'd agreed that they would practice yet they don't and here there's a real problem for me. This is maddening. I so want to cut off lessons and quit paying and get my shit done for work, so I can do want I want to do for me.
And as I'm typing this, I defensively think of all the times I was quiet. And goddamn that's information too. It's proof that you can. I can be quiet, I can bite back the thoughts, I can leave them alone. You Can!
But let's separate the issues.
1. Retaliation for music - JFC they're just kids. Pay the last lesson and reconsider for next year.
2. Nagging about missed chores - it's not working, just do it or leave it for someone else to see. Defensiveness says that if I leave it LA might see and I'll be justified for being upset. No, not really.
3. Backwoods Girls - hey, I'd LOVE to listen to my music or a podcast. I really thought they didn't like it But a So win/win.
4. Filling space - not needed. Bad habit.
5. Weekly task list - waste of time. It's a written nag. Same with the text messages.
6. Nagging LA to come to bed - ugh, this one I did stop doing. I wasn't winning helping him either way.
7. I don't want to do things but I do them unasked for - oh fucking easy - stop doing them.
8. I take time away from work to help them, in this line music lesson. I give up here, it's only one more weekend anyway.
9. I take up time doing things not asked for. OK, I don't need to do it then. Why do I do it?!
10. I take up time traveling for them, yet get comments about how my family weekends (all 2 of them this year) took up their time. I can fix that for a win/win. I don't need to travel! I'll stay home and enjoy the time while they get the peace and quiet of me not being there.
WHY DO I SEE THIS AS WINNING OR LOSING? There's information there too. This isn't a competiton. It's a family. And I'm the one with the problems. I'm the one causing problems.
I'm still being defensive. At least this morning I realized it and gave lev the coffee.
This isn't the Flood. It's a spill. Once I get past the defensive reactions, I can see room for improvement.