‘Tis

Me to her: “I know you’re upset about the mess in the house. I am working right now, but later when Devon goes to his dad’s house I will have time to get some things cleaned up.”
She bows her head as though the weight of the earth is on her shoulders, sums up some words and begins to spew forth, “Yes, well it isn’t as awful as it has been, but it’s still…”
I interrupt and say, “Um, no. I am not asking for a guilt trip here. Before you can summon one up, let me explain what I am saying. I am acknowledging that I understand your frustrations with the mess right now. I am offering a solution. However, I am drawing my boundaries and letting you know that I have my priorities to meet for myself before I can do other things.”
She looks somewhat shocked, “It hurts that you would assume I will lay a guilt trip on you.”
Right back at her, “Um, hello? I grew up here? Unless some sort of alien force came and replaced my real mother, a daily guilt trip is standard issue around here.”
Sometimes I suspect I was hatched from an egg.