Growing up, I used to listen to you in the car with my mom. I always asked her to turn on “that lady on the radio who yells at everyone!” I gave birth to my first child during the height of COVID, and I started listening to you again on my daily walks with the baby. I heard a woman caller say she was constantly crying every time she got angry, and she didn’t know how to stop. You told her she was using her tears as a means for manipulation. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, because it hit me at that moment that I was doing the same thing in my marriage when we had disagreements.
I told a friend about my revelation, and she said “Never tell your husband this! He will be so upset.” I ignored her advice and sat down with him, apologized for doing this for the duration of our relationship, and promised not to do it anymore. I never told my friend this, but my husband hugged me and thanked me. The following morning, he took our daughter out for a walk and came back with a big bouquet of flowers. That was a year ago, and I haven’t cried just for effect since.
I look forward to many more walks with you in my ear helping me do the right thing.
Katie
I Used Tears to Manipulate My Husband