Today Didn't End Well

Today started out as most others; get up, get ready and head off to work, listening to the Daily Audio Bible podcast. Work throughout the day, come home (sometimes listening to more podcasts) and eventually handling dinner, getting the kids into bed, etc.

Today was the same, yet different. All of those things happened pretty well in that order, but just prior to dinner my wife told me she was falling apart. That changes things. I don't mean to take her pain and make it mine, or what it does to me, etc. But, it literally kills me when she's down. When she's happy, so am I. When she is hurting, so am I. I'm certainly capable of feeling things for myself- and I don't mean this in a dependency context. She and I are one team. What happened? We'd been playful and flirtatious via SMS messages earlier in the day. Then all of a sudden, boom. The kids came home, her mood went south and we were on the verge of a meltdown. This one appeared to be affecting her both mentally, and physically. She was wiped.

Here it is: we're struggling to keep our household in order. Our kids are great human beings, but like us, they have their obstacles. My oldest son is failing high school and doesn't care. My middle son is basically holding the family together and trying his best to be good, but is 'invisible' because of the demands of the other kids. My youngest son and daughter are beginning to become disrespectful to their mother and me.

In all, none of them does their chores, cleans their room or does homework regularly or without constant hounding. My wife and I either have to yell and push them to get moving until something is actually done, or more often than not we just do it ourselves to save stress. Simply asking them to do things rarely produces results. So, we get to tackle their tasks plus our own duties. For everyone and everywhere else, they are delightful, helpful and respectful...

I tend to run hot or cold; either not involved enough or too overbearing with a lack of consistency. My wife is getting hit from all sides with her family turning out exactly as she'd determined it wouldn't. No one in the Wilson's is living God's best and it's hurting us.

We have some serious issues and truly could use your prayers as we try and reformulate what it means to be a Wilson.

Thank you and Good Night