Menopausal women are scary. No doubt about it. Just look at the abject fear on the faces around you when you start the descent on the emotional roller coaster ride.
Case in point. I’m cleaning up the kitchen after a quiet, lovely dinner. The pint of salad dressing that my husband has just made is sitting on the counter. When I try to put the lid on it, it jumps up into the air and spills. All over me, all over the floor, all over the rug in front of the sink and halfway up the wall.
I don’t know whether to curse, cry, or curl up into the fetal position. Or all three. My husband comes in, drawn by the clatter. He takes one look at me and says hurriedly, "Just wipe yourself off; I’ll clean this up." He circles me warily like a geologist trying to ascertain if a volcano is on the verge of eruption.
"I need a bath," I mutter and toddle off to bubbles and hot, rose scented water. I hear classical music as I drift off, Calgon taking me away. (My husband subscribes to the theory that music soothes the savage beast. Hey, it works.) 20 minutes later he calls in to me, "It’s all cleaned up. Are you okay now?"
Oh yeah, I am okay. More than okay. Because thankfully, I don’t have to do this alone. My partner is in the seat next to me on that roller coaster, lifting his arms high in the air and yelling, "Woo hoo, what a ride!"
you are right we are scary ….I had to buy a car reciently never a fun thing to do as far as I am concerned… I took my other half to go look at one I thought was suitable .. and the young salesman although very friendly … had no idea when to stop talking ….finaly I said SPENCER stop talking …. now go over there and say nothing….My other half had no idea what to say or do … years ago I would not have done anything like that …but I had had ENOUGH…. I did buy the car … Sometimes the pause gives you a space you never knew you had …
I am 46yrs old, way too young or so I thought to be menopausal.. how wrong was I? Temper tantrums come and go, complete with my ability to cope with the simplest of situations, I see where you're coming from, we … I understand, I've been there frequently..
Dear Dinah,
Thanks for the sharing. I too started perimenopause/menopause at age 46. (I'm 52 now – sheesh.) It gets better but not ever "the way it used to be". All we can do is laugh and support one another!
all my best,
Lynette
What incredible insights into what I am feeling. Although my biggest hurdle right now is depression. My God, I was in the grocery store on Saturday and for some reason the paper products aisle sent me into a weeping jag. I'm hoping to find some relief . . . . so are my husband and all my friends! I don't know which is worse this constant feeling of sadness or the hot flashes.