Bronwyn Green

The Corner of Quirky & Kinky

From where I’m sitting in my spot on the couch, there are several kinds of unsupportive people.

There are the people who are close to you – often, they live with you and some of them you might have even made yourself. These people are less unsupportive and more “What’s for supper?”, “Can you sign this permission slip that’s three days late?”, and “I know you’ve asked me every day for the past week, but I’m finally telling you that we’re out of lunch meat, cat litter, and fruit snacks.” heedless of the fact that you have headphones and your work face on. The spouse version sounds a lot like, “Hon, have you seen my keys/flashlight/20-sided die/Shadowrun book/etc.?”, “Are there any clean underwear?”, and the ever-popular, “What’s for supper?” also heedless of the headphones and work face.

Normally, my family gets that if my headphones are on, I’m working and I’d prefer not to be disturbed. They’re actually pretty good about it. And despite the above listed questions, they’re also pretty good about being self-sufficient human beings. But it seems like once one of them caves and interrupts, it’s all downhill slide from there.

Then there are the people who have trouble understanding that just because you work at home doesn’t mean you have unlimited time to entertain drop-in visitors I loathe this. So much so, that I’ve pretended that I’m not home. More than once. I’m not proud, but whether I’m working or not, I don’t always have the emotional energy to deal with surprise company. (Mom and Cait, this doesn’t apply to you. I get that sometimes, a girl just needs to pee and get a cup of tea. Besides, if you’ve been given your own key, it’s hardly drop-in.)

A lot of these are also the same people who get pissy when I can’t just drop everything to go out to breakfast or lunch with them. This isn’t to say that all of the people I occasionally lunch or breakfast with don’t understand that being self-employed often means putting in a fuckton of extra hours. Most of them totally get that. It’s the ones who seem to think that because I work from home I’m living some sort of magical life of leisure that piss me off. Even explaining the reality of deadlines doesn’t seem to click with them.

Then there are the people who are unsupportive because “writing isn’t a real job”. I have a couple relatives that I don’t see often who are somehow under the impression that the freelance editing I do is somehow more of a real job than writing is. (Yeah…I’m not sure I get that, either.) These same people also feel that what I write is an affront to their delicate sensibilities and because of it are disdainful and sometimes downright douchey when we interact.

Now, I’m not saying that everyone needs to love what I do and proudly wave the erotic romance flag. Far from it. My only request would be…don’t be a judgmental asshole. It’s really not that tough to live and let live.

So what to do about unsupportive people?

For those you live with, the occasional reminder that they’re capable of washing their own undies, or checking the menu posted on the fridge may be necessary. Also, make sure that you’re not so buried in your work that you’re not spending any time with them. Balance is huge. But so is respect of your work time and creative process.

For the drop-ins or the pissy people who expect you to drop everything, let them know when you might be free (if you still want to keep them in your life, that is) or let them know that you’re under deadline for the foreseeable future and you’ll call them when you’re available. And if you mutter “the 12th of never” under your breath, I certainly won’t tell anyone.

For those people you’ve perhaps inherited through your spouse or maybe a step-parent, you could unload on them. Or, if you’re interested in some sort of semblance of family harmony, you can avoid them as much as humanly possible. However, when confronted with their assholery, there’s nothing wrong with standing up for yourself, your genre, your child, or whatever their unsupportive bitch of the day is. It’s possible to do that without throwing down. Possibly not as satisfying, but possible.

But really, the best thing to do is find your tribe and surround yourself with supportive friends and colleagues who will not only have your back but also get the whole writing life.

You should check out the Jessicas. They probably have better advice.

Jess

Jessica

15 thoughts on “Dealing with Unsupportive People

  1. jarmanjess says:

    Ha! I had no advice, silly woman. My post was more personal, rambl, perhaps whiney share what I deal with kinda post. Not so much with the advice. Didn’t go that route…super glad you did. Because what you shared was f**king good, and will maybe help someone avoid or at least minimize the pain and annoyance.

    Hope that made sense…it made sense to be but I’ll admit my brain and fingers may not be connected yet as I type on my phone squinting at the screen in the semi darkness that is my room. Because I’m clearly that awesome. 🙂

    1. Bronwyn says:

      I didn’t think it was whiney. I thought it was thoughtful and introspective. So there.

  2. No real advice from me other than to echo what you said. Try to let their insensitivity roll off your back, focus on the positive, and keep your eyes on your own paper. Some people will never understand, and you can’t make them. That’s okay. Just spend a little more time and effort on those who do!

    1. Bronwyn says:

      This: Some people will never understand, and you can’t make them. is the truthiest truth that ever truthed. Sometimes, you just need to shake your head and walk away.

  3. Pansy Petal says:

    This is a subject I have dealt with all my life. It really sucked when the nay sayer was my mother. It took me a lot of years to learn to stand up for myself. Still working on some of the repercussions. But it helps to be able to read insights like I find with y’all. Thank you very much!

    1. Bronwyn says:

      Sometimes, it’s really, really hard to move past the criticisms of the people who are supposed to be the ones protecting us. 🙁 *HUGS*

      I’m glad that the insights and posts are helpful, though. <3

  4. Tanya says:

    I love this and can completely relate. When you work from home, especially if it’s a creative job, then people think you’re not ‘really working’. Screw that noise! And that’s what it is. Noise. God forbid, if I ever stopped by without letting you know, you SHOULD ignore me. 🙂

    1. Bronwyn says:

      Sometimes emergencies happen and you might need a place to pee – that’s totally cool. I’d let you in. 😀

      But I hate that attitude that just because we work at home, we’re somehow slacking while everyone else has a real job.

      No. We just had the foresight to know that we’re happier and more productive in our own space and we made that work for us.

  5. Gwen Cease says:

    I suck since I didn’t do a post at all . . since I’m lame and on vacation and forgot. But the unsupportive person I was going to address was ME!!!! I’m the most unsupportive person I know where my writing is concerned since I put everything else first since it’s way more important. *sigh*

    1. Bronwyn says:

      Vacation is important, too. But, I *totally* get what you’re saying about feeling like you’re the unsupportive person in your life. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find myself feeling that way, too. *HUGS*

  6. storimom2 says:

    How I know this too well! From a neighbor who used to call me every day at the same time and want to talk for hours after her last child entered school (before Caller ID)….I finally wised up and realized if I started in on one of MY issues, she quickly found the need to hang up!….to others who would offer me home based businesses…”this will give you something to do all day”…..Contrary to ‘popular’ belief, I do NOT spend my day watching TV and being bored!….to my spouse who frequently tells me to “quit playing on that damn computer or I’ll throw it out the window” or “get off your ass and CLEAN once in a while!”….Yeah, I’m surrounded by people who don’t *get* what I do. Even when I mention book signings and refer to it as “I’m going to work”, I’m met with eye rolls and “how much is this going to cost” or “do you really think people are going to buy your book at a FESTIVAL?” (yes, they DO!). Even a so-called best friend told me two years ago to let go of this dream and ‘get a REAL job. Oh, thanks….so every time you asked how the writing was going and seemed happy to read my words, it was just lip service? *shaking my head*

    1. Bronwyn says:

      This whole situation makes me really sad. I’m sorry that that’s your environment. 🙁

  7. twimom227 says:

    Hey, how come you didn’t answer that text I sent right away?! I mean, what could you possibly be doing? (You love me because I’m a smart ass!)

    1. Bronwyn says:

      I *do* love you because you’re a smartass. And because you’re all around awesome. <3

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