keep treading on eggshells? or just let rip?

[PingPongBat]

When you feel as if you constantly have to tread on eggshells to avoid upsetting / offending family members, how do you cope? I need to rant.

I feel like I'm always on edge, trying not to upset DD (15, massively hormonal), and DH (constantly tired, very often grumpy and frequently monosyllabic). DS (17) seems OK, very grateful for support and things I do for him, & he's always been more 'straightforward' as a teenager, but sometimes I just want to SCREAM at DD and/or DH. Just now DD came out of her room and said 'are you going to be long, it's just that noise is really annnoying'. I was brushing builder's dust off the carpet outside her room for about 2 minutes. ARGHHHH. 'No', I said, 'and anyway, tough!' I really, really tried to smile as I said it, but she just slammed the door and disappeared. I have no idea from one moment to the next what mood she's in, it's just exhausting.

I've had a shit load of extra hours (unpaid) at work recently and being on edge at home is just getting me down much more than usual. I really feel like buggering off to the pub and getting steaming drunk and leaving them all to it.

Sounds like a nightmare!

I wouldn't 'let rip' as such, but I would talk to both of them about their behaviour/attitude, DD in particular.

I would stop walking on eggshells too. Just do your thing (within reason obviously), they can join in or fuck off, their choice.

Thanks NuffSaidSam

After writing that last night DD came downstairs as cheerful as anything, asking whether she'd told us how she got a 9 grade in her GCSE music solo performance!

I think I can cope with her better than DH actually, at least she comes out of it, discusses it and occasionally apologises for being a grump. DH just sits there looking morose. It's so sad - he used to be such a happy person, I think work is grinding him down (which he admits) and making him depressed (which he'd never admit to).