Burnout
*********** I heard Amanda come into the house. She dropped her purse on the stairs and took her coat off. She came into the den and flopped into the chair. She looked like she was about to cry. She didn't even say hello to me. Something must have happened at work. I certainly hope she didn't have a fight with the man she works with. I walked into the den.
"Amanda, darling, is everything okay?"
Amanda looked up at me and she had tears in her eyes. She wiped a tear from her face and tried to cover up the fact that she was crying.
"Oh yes, Mother. I am fine. It's just been a very taxing day at the office today. That friend I told you about…with the burnout symptoms. He just really blew up today and I am trying not to take it too personally."
I went over to my daughter and brushed the side of her face. "Amanda, did he hurt you?"
Amanda shook her head. "Just my feelings, Mother. He apologized and I forgave him immediately. He knows that it didn't bother me."
"Amanda, but it did bother you, didn't it? Do you want to talk about it?"
She stood up and gave me a hug. " Not really Mother. I am sorry. I just think I want to take a nice hot bubble bath and go to bed early tonight. Tomorrow will be a better day and I think we'll be in better moods. Were the boys good for you today?"
She changed the subject. She didn't want to talk about whatever happened. I didn't want to push her, but I had a feeling that whatever happened really upset her. I told her the boys were fine and were upstairs finishing their homework. She went upstairs and I heard her talking to the boys and then I heard her close her bedroom door. I sat there and wondered if there was something more between Amanda and this man she worked with. My heart broke for her as I wondered if she would really be okay or was she crying herself to sleep.