AoD #4: Halfway of Active Listening

Art of Democracy

The other day, I was listening to my parents and brother argue. It was over my sensitivity to the paint fumes, and resulting fourth day of sleeping in the front room, I had, at one point, left to the back of the house and thus heard them speak of me when not in my presence. My brother was angry that he couldn't watch television past nine o'clock due to my sleeping habits and wanted me out so he could happily watch the large screen. But, my father rebuked him, saying that he was "the lowest one on the totem pole," because he had no job, no diploma, and did nothing around the house and thus had no say of the household's members.

Thinking to myself, I realized how true my father was. Yet, I began to think of how much I myself did around the house. Little to naught, I concluded and began thinking of how to contribute my skills around the house (which is falling apart) and relieve some stress of my parent's own.

I just say and waited until the argument fizzled out and ended in a doorslam, not wanting to explore the remaining anger there.