Did you use an I message?

Since becoming a teacher, I've found that I've absolutely changed the way in which I speak to people. We teach children to use their words in a thoughtful and effective way. Because I'm always modeling it, I now use I messages in my personal life. For example:

Old me:
"Don't freaking call me when after you've been out all night! I'm not your booty call!"

New me:
"I don't like it when you call me at 2 in the morning and want me to pick you up at the bar. It makes me feel as if that's the only time that you want to hang out with me. I need you to ask me to do things when you're sober."

Old me:
"I'm going to punch your boyfriend in his sleep if he continues peeing on my toilet seat, eating my food, and walking around in his swish pants in my house every minute of everyday!"

New me:
"It frustrates me when I hear your boyfriend walking around the house wearing his swish pants. Hearing, 'Swish swish swish swish', makes me feel as if I could flip out at any moment. I need you and your boyfriend to get the freak out of the house for a while so I don't end up on an episode of Snapped."

Old me:
"Don't tell me that a date is not a date! You're such a jerk!"

New me:
"It infuriates me when you tell me that a date is not a date. Listening to your stupidity ensures that I'm going to friend your ex on Facebook just to spit you. I need you to go on as many dates as you'd like, but don't even think about asking me."

See. Thoughful and effective!

**The Ex's ex was actually really nice, which I probably didn't deserve.