Tuesday, 6:30 a.m.

Today I just know I’m going to yell at Mrs. Washburn.  Only once, if I can help it.  I woke up with a headache, and I know I’ll forget myself sometime today when my head hurts, and I’ll yell at her.  Well, not exactly yell….I’ll shoot my eyes at her, frown, stretch my voice real tight and fast, and I’ll snap, shoot a string of words at her with a glare, and I’ll go back to writing on my papers,…but I’ll be nice to her the rest of the day.  I’ll only yell at her once.

Tuesday, 4:30 p.m.

I had a feeling it was going to be one of those days.  I had a headache this morning, late to school, papers ungraded and plans half-finished.  Randy walked noisily into the classroom, banging desks, walls, and students.  After getting the first period organized, I was hurrying to catch-up with plans and papers during a break with my class at P.E.

Just then Mrs. Washburn, Melody, my friend, came in and asked me if she could borrow the science video.  I feel kind of bad because I yelled at her, “I don’t have it!  Chris has it.  I don’t know where he put it!”  I mean, I didn’t have time to go looking for it.  We all wrote down who was using it and when.  She was supposed to have that note.  How was I supposed to get my work done?  The kids were going to get out of P.E. in 15 minutes.  She knew how busy I was.  It wasn’t my fault Chris didn’t pass the video on.

I tried to find her at lunch to explain, but I had to meet kids in my room.  After school she came to return the video, but when I looked up to say “Hi” she had already left the room.  I guess she was busy.

Oh well, we’re good friends.  She’ll understand.  After all, I only yelled at her once.  She’ll forget about it by tomorrow morning.

Wednesday, 4:00 p.m.

I wish I had caught Melody today.  I just wanted to apologize.  I can’t believe how the time has flown.  I thought she might wait at her car and walk with me inside this morning, but I guess she didn’t see me.  At our mailbox in the office, I said HI and stopped to wait for her to go together to our classrooms…but I guess she’s busy.  She didn’t seem to see me.  She looked busy all day long.  That must be why she didn’t pop into my room like she usually does.

Oh well, I’ve been busy, too.  She’s probably forgotten.  Maybe I should forget it, too.  After all, I only yelled at her once.

Thursday, 3:30 p.m.

Boy, the week has really gone quickly.  I didn’t see Melody all day long.  Except for once.  Yeah, I passed her in the hall.  I called to her, but she didn’t hear me.  There’s so much going on.

Well, I’ve got to leave early.  It’s really no big deal.  After all, we’ve been friends for 5 years.  She’ll understand.

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THINGS TO REMEMBER

Words have awesome power to build us up or tear us down emotionally.  This is particularly true within the family.  Many people can clearly remember words of praise parents spoke years ago.  Others can remember negative, cutting words–with the whole scene etched in extraordinary detail on their minds.               —Gary Smalley

Disagreements and quarrels in a relationship are inevitable, and they can be beneficial or deadly.  If two people know how to resolve conflicts so that their relationship deepens and matures, they possess a magnificent skill. But if they don’t know how to deal effectively with their disagreements, their marriage may be systematically destroyed.  More marriages fail because two people don’t know how to handle their differences than for any other reason.  That’s why it’s so vital to know ahead of time that you and your spouse-to-be are skillful at managing problems.  If you don’t know that, you’re taking a big risk in getting married.                            —Dr. Neil Warren

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