"Think like a lawyer"

So on my drive home today I thought of a really brilliant and detailed blog entry, complete with clever analogies and witty interjections. Sadly my Contracts reading took precedence this evening, so I shall give you the "Reader's Digest" version, with a moment of silence for the awesomeness that this entry could have been.

...

Digest: the other night C and I were driving to see our friends and we got into an argument (this happens fairly often... never over serious, deal-breaker issues... no, we like to argue over pretty mundane things generally. But anyway, we were arguing). Just as the argument was starting to take a turn for the worse (me frustrated, C frustrated, neither of us getting our points across), I took a deep breath and decided to approach the argument 'like a lawyer.' 

I broke down my grievances into:

1: my current state of mind (frazzled and focused on homework)

2: the catalyst (C forgot his motorcycle was still at work - threw off our travel plans)

3: the reaction he gave me (shrug - not a big deal)

4: my interpretation of his reaction (shrug - it's your job to keep track of logistical stuff, why is this such a big deal to you?)

5: my reaction to his reaction (is it my job to keep track of your stuff?)

6: his reaction to my reaction (why is this such a big deal to you?)

7: proposed solution (C will 'please' remember that my brain is very focused on law school right now and I'd appreciate him picking up some of the mental slack, because I'm practically a zombie by 7:30 pm every day)

8: proposed result (C pulls more weight around apartment, K is able to focus on husband and friends in addition to homework/daily chores, C and K get along)

...and it worked!!! The argument was dissolved logically, and we were no longer at each other's throats. Success!

Long story short, everyone warned us that law school would change our interactions with our loved ones and it is 100% true. Living proof. Right over here. 

Back to Contracts...

K