Getting along with your family as you #StayHome
dubai — Being isolated at home can produce a plethora of emotions including irritation, frustration, anger and feeling overwhelmed.
With the virus taking time to recede, it’s said, people are in a ‘fight or flight’ mode all the time.
Dubai resident Liara Svalova said with her husband and child perpetually humming along in the background, she is discovering new found patience. But there are times when a little spark can push her over the edge.
“Suddenly, I feel my emotions are taking over ... so I am primed to quarrel with my husband. Usually, the fight is triggered on trivial issues like keeping the balcony door open or shut, or food that I am prepared to cook,” said the Russian expat.
When you’re there all the time, with your significant other, there are things that couples say that pisses them off. That’s when one feels that emotion rising.
Adeelatul Abdullah, who’s used to seeing her husband go to work and children rush to school every morning, sometimes finds so much of family time overbearing.
“The other day my husband was upset because when I asked him to help me in baking bread, something unpleasant happened. While taking out flour from the glass jar, the container slipped and fell on his new phone. So, the mobile broke. Then I was in the line of fire,” laughed the Malaysian expat.
Dealing with children
“Even my son likes to press my button all the time. He likes to tease me because he cannot go out and entertain himself. So, he derives childish pleasure from irritating me, as I can be quite high strung,” added the mother of a seventeen-year-old.
As parents find ways of helping their children adapt to the new environment, younger kids seldom understand why they are hunkering indoors. Shreya Chakravarti’s threeyear-old son barely understands the concept of distance learning.
“I’ve observed frequent and longer
meltdowns with my son these days. He keeps saying he wants to go to school and play with his friends.”
Canadian expat Mousa Nimer said his six-year-old son doesn’t know how to burn his undying energy. “Being confined to the house is not easy for a child. But tempers need to be checked. Otherwise, these closures create home environment equivalent to a pressure cooker.”
Madhulika Chatterjee said the uncertain times surrounding her 18-year-old son’s future is leading to frayed nerves. “Emotions are running high. Neil is in Year 13 and this was a crucial year for him as he was due to join a foreign university. But now, routines and timelines have gone haywire. My son wakes up late and this upsets my husband.
She added: “These are economically difficult times as companies are asking employees to take pay cuts. So, one’s financial planning is in doldrums. Then, teenagers have their own temper tantrums which are soaring now.”