Caitlin Flanagan Quotes

I am about to be married, and am of course in all the misery of a man in pursuit of happiness.

I don't even remember what Mother and I quarreled about: it is a continual quarrel that began when I reached puberty.

Negative emotions like hatred destroy our peace of mind.

You go through every single inch of the emotional spectrum on fight week. You're the most stressed out you've ever been, you're the most pressured you've ever been, you're the happiest you've ever been - it's hard. It's exhausting.

Due to my sometimes erratic behavior, my children tried very hard to avoid me and not do anything to set me off.

It seemed like my father and I were always fighting. I know a lot of kids go through that with their families, but it was hard for me.

Who hasn't had an argument with their mother-in-law?

We had all these smiley family pictures all over the walls of my house, but I always found those pictures to be odd because we weren't smiling all the time. I don't want to paint the picture of a total dysfunctional house, but there were a lot of arguments in that house. A lot of pain.

Me and my dad were so much alike that we would just butt heads. I pretty much hated him from the age of 16 to 24 for no real reason.

When a person is juggling a lot of emotions in a single day, it can take a toll.

There are so many moving parts to a wedding, and I, it turns out, am a bit of a perfectionist.

I saw my parents go through tough times between 1979 and 1983. They almost split up.

It's okay to be annoyed with your significant other and feel overwhelmed at times.

Now that I think about it, my 40th birthday was the most anxiety I've ever had, and my wedding was also the second time I've had that much anxiety. So I'm starting to realize that I can't be throwing these big bash parties because I need to own that I get anxiety with a lot of people diverting their attention to me.

As usual, my mind is spinning in circles...is it me? Am I making mountains out of molehills? Being too analytical? Worrying about nothing? Being emotional?

Give up all hope of peace so long as your mother-in-law is alive.

Fear pounds on the door to our heart demanding to be let in. Joy is modest and often comes into our lives like a shy person entering a room; it can take a while to even notice it's there.

Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward to this marriage, just so I can spend the rest of my life making you miserable." Alexandra was too angry to be intimidated. "Misery loves company, sweetheart," she shot back. "So don't think I'll be suffering mine alone." She slipped out from under his arm and marched out the door.

Fear, she's the mother of violence.

They carried on sniping in the front seat, and Mae turned back to Jamie. "You doing okay?" she murmured. "Yes," said Jamie, a bit too earnestly. "I love you, Mae. Your hair is the color of flamingos! And I love Nick as well." He gazed soulfully in Nick's direction. "Sometimes when you are not being psychotic, you are quite funny. And you!" He regarded Seb for a long moment. "No, I still don't like you," he decided. "Maybe I need another drink." "I don't think so," Nick said.

You're tearing me apart!

I don't say anything and I feel awful. I tell somebody and I feel worse. I'm having trouble finding a middle ground.

Waiting for your answer is one of the most painful things I have ever been through. At least let me know whether or not I hurt you.

The neurotic lies awake at night, composing letters to those he hates. He seldom thinks of dropping a line to those he loves.

Domesticity is essentially drama, for drama is conflict, and the home compels conflict by its concentration of active personalities in a small area. The real objection to domesticity is that it is too exciting.