Held Hostage

We've all heard the saying: If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. I don't really like this saying, but I must say that in our house, it's the opposite: If Papa ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. Ben is such a strong, central figure in our home that we do tend to hang on his moods. If he has had a great day, he comes home and it just shows all over his face...all over his actions with us. The opposite is just as true. I hate that we allow ourselves to be swayed by one person. I think it's a lot of pressure on Ben, too. I have a saying that I use on our 5 year old. He tends to like to manipulate us by using his emotions. I say to him, "We will not be held hostage by your emotions." (I know...sounds goofy to say that to a 5 yr old...but one day he will get it...and for now, he understands that we don't like what is happening.) I think I am going to use a version of that on myself from now on with Ben (or anyone else I might allow this from). "I will not hold myself hostage to your emotions." Just a thought...we'll see how it works in reality.