The Trouble Tree

So this was my first week back to work from a very nice long break. I've enjoyed being back with my kiddos, but I sure miss staying home with my family. As with any job....there's stress. Britt and I both struggle with separating work stress and family. Britt owning and managing his own business is very stressful and he often feels he has no choice but to bring it home. A lot of the business decisions are made "at home", discussing it with family. As a school teacher...unfortunately, a lot comes home as well. As many think that teaching is a 7-4 job with all the holidays and breaks off....I beg to differ...ask my husband!! As a teacher, stress and worrying correlate pretty closely. My students become like family, and I worry about them almost as much as I do my own child. Anyway, a goal of mine, and one I work on with my husband, is too once we get home our child does not reap the consequences of our stress. As the Hulsey's continue to work on this.....my dad sent me the following....we might need to try this!!




The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farm house had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire had caused him to miss an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pick-up truck refused to start.

As I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. When we arrived he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked to the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles; he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed by the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, they don't belong in the house with my wife and children. So, I just hang them on the tree when I come home in the evening and then I just pick them up again in the morning."

"Funny thing, though," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there ain't nearly as many as I remembered hanging there the night before."