Some couples fight over finances. Others have been known to divorce over the toilet seat being left up. In our house, the biggest disputes arise over alone time.
I am a big proponent of alone time, probably because I crave it so much. There is nothing I enjoy quite so much as stone-cold quiet and having the house to myself. I prefer to write in uninterrupted silence. Social interactions—even with Jason—drain me. The only way for me to refuel is solitude. Jason, on the other hand, would prefer us to be joined at the hip. It's made for more than one disagreement in our home.
Because of this, these are some real conversations that have actually happened in my house:
Jason: I think it would be fun to go to the movies this weekend.
Me: Great. Have fun.
Jason: No, I meant together.
Me: STOP TRYING TO CONTROL MY LIFE ON THE WEEKENDS!
Jason: I’m going to run out to the store. See? I’m giving you your alone time.
Me: A half an hour, during which I will be continuing to do the laundry and ironing, doesn’t count.
Jason: There’s just no pleasing you, is there?
Jason: How was your day?
Me: Please stop talking.
Jason: What’s for dinner?
Me: For the love of all things holy, are you ever not home? I just want five minutes to myself!
Jason: Jeez, you’re in a mood! PMS?
Me: Move your face closer so I can slap you.
You see, one of the other problems with needing alone time is that when you don’t get enough of it, your ability to communicate the overwhelming need to be alone goes downhill. It’s sort of a catch-22 that goes along with being an introvert. If am able to articulate my feelings along the lines of “People have been talking at me all day. I am socially, mentally, and emotionally drained. What I really need is a few hours of complete silence and lack of outside stimuli so I can recharge my batteries. After that, I will be a much more pleasant person,” well, then, I’m actually doing pretty well, and probably don’t need alone time. However, if I am short-tempered, weepy, and generally incoherent, saying “Move your face closer!” in response to “How are you?” is not getting my need to be alone across in a clear and concise manner. Now, to me, I think “Move your face closer” pretty much says it all. But some people (not naming any names, but it’s Jason) think I’m being rude and generally snarly. Let the arguing ensue.
When my nephew Evan was a toddler, one of his favorite phrases was “Leave. Me. Alone!”
I hear you, kid. I hear you.
I am a big proponent of alone time, probably because I crave it so much. There is nothing I enjoy quite so much as stone-cold quiet and having the house to myself. I prefer to write in uninterrupted silence. Social interactions—even with Jason—drain me. The only way for me to refuel is solitude. Jason, on the other hand, would prefer us to be joined at the hip. It's made for more than one disagreement in our home.
Because of this, these are some real conversations that have actually happened in my house:
Jason: I think it would be fun to go to the movies this weekend.
Me: Great. Have fun.
Jason: No, I meant together.
Me: STOP TRYING TO CONTROL MY LIFE ON THE WEEKENDS!
Jason: I’m going to run out to the store. See? I’m giving you your alone time.
Me: A half an hour, during which I will be continuing to do the laundry and ironing, doesn’t count.
Jason: There’s just no pleasing you, is there?
Jason: How was your day?
Me: Please stop talking.
Jason: What’s for dinner?
Me: For the love of all things holy, are you ever not home? I just want five minutes to myself!
Jason: Jeez, you’re in a mood! PMS?
Me: Move your face closer so I can slap you.
You see, one of the other problems with needing alone time is that when you don’t get enough of it, your ability to communicate the overwhelming need to be alone goes downhill. It’s sort of a catch-22 that goes along with being an introvert. If am able to articulate my feelings along the lines of “People have been talking at me all day. I am socially, mentally, and emotionally drained. What I really need is a few hours of complete silence and lack of outside stimuli so I can recharge my batteries. After that, I will be a much more pleasant person,” well, then, I’m actually doing pretty well, and probably don’t need alone time. However, if I am short-tempered, weepy, and generally incoherent, saying “Move your face closer!” in response to “How are you?” is not getting my need to be alone across in a clear and concise manner. Now, to me, I think “Move your face closer” pretty much says it all. But some people (not naming any names, but it’s Jason) think I’m being rude and generally snarly. Let the arguing ensue.
When my nephew Evan was a toddler, one of his favorite phrases was “Leave. Me. Alone!”
I hear you, kid. I hear you.
Don't make me resort to the couch fort again.
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