E was a grouch tonight. She didn’t really start off that way, but come dinner time, she was snapping at her sister and was the proud owner of a rather unattractive sneer.
after about the 15th eye roll, i asked her, “What is bothering you right now?”
Her response?
“I don’t know! [sorta snarky] Nothing’s really wrong, but for some reason, everything is irritating me. [snark gone] I don’t know why.”
I said, “wow, that was refreshingly honest. Thanks.”
If she can maintain this transparency through her teenage years, I will survive. I can talk to J instead when E is feeling that way. I can eat my chili in silence. I can respect the fact that she is a mass of roiling emotions and hormones and growing-up-ness, as long as she’s honest over rude.
After that interaction, she mellowed out, and we conversed normally for the rest of the meal.