This is a bit of an impromptu post - I was watching the news earlier and saw Rachel Reeves with a tear rolling down her cheek during Prime Minister’s Questions.

Now, I’m not here to dive into politics. Honestly, I’m not a big fan of politics or any government party. That’s not what this is about.

But in that moment, watching her wipe away that tear, I just thought - she looked like someone who really needed a hug. She seemed genuinely upset. And there she was, sitting through people arguing back and forth. It reminded me of those awful days at work when everything slowly piles up and you’re doing your best to keep it together… until it just feels like too much.

I remembered a day at a previous job when I was a trainee adviser. A client was really rude to me. I stayed professional on the call, but the moment the call ended, I broke down. I felt embarrassed at the time, but honestly, I just couldn’t help it.

Come on, you’ve had days like that too, right?

The kind where something pushes you over the edge - and once the tears start, they just won’t stop. You try to speak, but you know if you do, it’ll all come out.

That’s what it looked like for Rachel Reeves.

And in that moment, I didn’t see a politician. I saw a person. A woman doing her best, probably exhausted, carrying a mountain of pressure.

Sure, some people will criticise her - that’s what people do, especially with politicians. But I didn’t see weakness. I saw someone having a really crap day at work.

And honestly? Who hasn’t had one of those?

Whether you’re the Chancellor or a cashier, a nurse, a teacher, or someone working in customer service - you’re human. You feel things. You get tired. You cry.

It also got me thinking about how easily we forget that behind every job title is a real person - someone with feelings, just like us. So why do some people talk to them like they’re not? Like when they call a customer service line and treat the person on the other end like a punching bag, instead of a human being just doing the best they can.

Or those signs you see in doctors’ surgeries now, reminding patients to treat staff with respect - as if we’ve gotten to a point where basic decency has to be spelled out.

Look, frustration happens - but you don’t need to take it out on the person trying to help you. Treat them like a human being. Chances are, if you stay calm and communicate properly, they can help you find a solution much quicker. Together.

Even at my kid’s school, they recently sent out an email reminding parents to be kind to the staff. Apparently, a few parents had been quite abrupt, and it left some staff genuinely upset. Like, I don’t understand what taking your anger out on someone else is supposed to achieve.

Most of the time, it’s not the job itself that wears you down - it’s how people treat you while you’re doing it. And honestly, dealing with unpredictable behaviour shouldn’t be part of your job - at least, it’s not in most job descriptions, right?

And if we’re honest, many of us have cried because of something someone said or did to us at work.

So yeah - crying isn’t a weakness. It’s just human. Sometimes, it’s the only way to let the pressure out.

Honestly, I think it’s okay that we saw Rachel Reeves cry. In fact, I found her vulnerability admirable - it was real, raw, and honest. It felt like one of the most genuine moments I’ve seen from the government in years.

We all have crap days. Even politicians. And you know what? It’s absolutely okay to cry, no matter who you are. 🩷