Strepito, Ergo Sum

Lately, I've been thinking I am losing it, but I suspect my husband is having it worse. 

So far, Lady Perimenopause has been somewhat easy on me and has not brought about anything unexpected. Hot flushes, anger, casual dizziness - bring it on. 

However, I am not sure what my husband is suffering from (sympathy pains, maybe), but he has been ranting constantly. If there is a lull in the conversation or some quiet time at home - not good. Not good at all. It's the same as when your toddler goes quiet - the outcome is never a good one. 

When it's quiet, my husband is usually up to something that is fueling a forthcoming verbal eruption - working out of hours, looking at house prices or reading the news. Uh-oh. I know its coming.

I much prefer it when he is actually ranting - though even my (non-existent) patience has its limits. Like, a few days ago, we were passing a billboard at a bus stop. It was showing a man eating a sandwich - advertising the ham. One glance and my husband was off: who puts so much ham in a sandwich??? Are they mad? This is unrealistic and no ham would be left after just a couple of sandwiches... and so on. You get the gist. 

Deep sigh.

Generational Mexican Standoff

If they say it's easy - they are lying. And if they say it's because you had kids later - that's poppycock.

I am talking about the mother (and possibly the father as well) slipping into perimenopause and the progeny waltzing into teenagedom (a.k.a. blasted puberty).

One starts a tantrum (or gets into a funk, or goes silent) and the other one does exactly the same, possibly on a different scale. It's like looking into a mirror, albeit at a reflection of a younger self that is not sure what is happening and that can't find their butt with both hands. 

Sure, I know I need to be the bigger person and reign it in, but the hormones are simmering just beneath the surface, pushing my limits. And so is the mirror image: pushing my buttons. 

Oh, well. I am only hoping we meet on the other side a bit ruffled, but generally unscathed. Yep. Hoping.