Benjamin takes several medications. One for his congenital hypothyroidism, another for anxiety and one more as needed for calming him down. Plus essential oils, lavender spray and gizzmos called buzzies he is his own science experiment. This in a house that never has Advil that hasn't expired. We fill two little boxes with compartments each week to keep track. Lots of people have them.

A friend mentioned that he was taking out his daily pill when his hand fumbled, and the pills all scattered across the floor. He was not expecting that to happen and his reaction was a cocktail of annoyance, anger, and embarrassment. His wife came in from the next room and helped him pick them up. She had no preconception about them spilling or not spilling, so her response was neutral. On the floor. Pick them up. I'm in. 

The next week she was getting out her own vitamins when the phone rang and it startled her enough to drop the bottle. These were expensive vitamins, and she was mad that they hit the floor. As she stooped down to collect them her husband came in from the other room to see what she needed. He had no notion that they would not spill, and was content to help gather them. 

When we have expectations that are not met, it is tempting to be frustrated.

"I thought you would be ready and you are not."

I am guilty of this sometimes when I fetch the girls from play practice. But the other night a friend picked them up, and the rehearsal went half an hour longer than she thought. Yet she had a book with her and was not miffed.

How about that.