Just Empathy

Hello friends,

Today, my son (10) came into the house in tears because he was practicing baseball in the front yard and accidentally threw a ball at our van in the driveway, shattering the back window.

My initial reaction was of course anger, but I had a moment of simple clarity I wanted to share

My reaction was to tell him this: “Stuff like this happens. It’s not the end of the world. We mess up, and there’s always people to help. You’re good.”

I spent the afternoon sweeping glass from the driveway. Pissed, impatient, emotions all over.

But he’s in bed, asleep, okay with what happened. We’re mad, we’re perfectionists, but everything is going to be okay. My name’s Matt. I’m an alcoholic. And it’s all going to be okay.

Thanks for letting me share