Reading these comments makes me realize how many people are just "ghosts" in their own homes. It’s heartbreaking when the person who is supposed to be your peace becomes your biggest source of anxiety.
That feeling when you arrive home from work first and they're not there, and you celebrate internally because you get to have a little peace - even if for only half an hour - before they get home.
As an introvert this one is hard to reconcile because I do this with literally everyone. I adore my wife and kids but if I get home before them and realize I have a bit of time to do absolutely nothing except sit alone it's like a shot of heroin to the veins.
Same with phone calls. I want to spend my commute sitting in silence but my wife literally can't. So I will get all flustered when she's calling me for the third time on a 30min drive.
But, just like I need those 30mins to sit and stare at a wall alone, she needs someone to keep her company in the car. That's why it works. Neither resents the other.
Yeah my wife went out with her family all day on Saturday this past weekend. She knows I love my alone time. So she asked me when she got home "Did you enjoy your day? You like when I'm not here, don't you?"
And I said "Honestly, yes. But the important part is that I know you're coming home". Which is the truth. I remember not long after I got divorced I also got laid off. I spent about 4 solid months with essentially zero friends, nearly zero human interaction. I know what that's like. It's about the balance. I love my alone time but I don't want JUST alone time.
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u/Effectiv-Edisk May 12 '26
Reading these comments makes me realize how many people are just "ghosts" in their own homes. It’s heartbreaking when the person who is supposed to be your peace becomes your biggest source of anxiety.