Every family seems to have roles, the joker, the peacemaker, the worrier. Which one are you?

B Natural answer

I'd say I'm mostly the go-between in my family. My parents and younger sister have very different personalities, so I often end up explaining one side to the other. I don't love conflict, and if a discussion starts getting too heated, I try to calm things down before it turns into a bigger argument. At the same time, I'm not just sitting there being passive. I usually listen carefully, ask a few questions, and try to keep the conversation fair. People also come to me when they want help sorting out plans, because I'm pretty good at keeping track of what matters. So I guess my role is part peacemaker, part organizer. It's not always easy, but I like being the person who helps everyone stay on the same page.

Key phrases in this answer

• the go-between — a person who passes messages or helps two sides understand each other“When my parents disagree, I become the go-between.”
• calm things down — to reduce anger, excitement, or tension“She stayed quiet for a minute to calm things down.”
• keeping track of what matters — remembering the important details and priorities“I use a notebook for keeping track of what matters.”
• the one who keeps things light — the person who makes tense situations feel easier or less serious“At work, I'm usually the one who keeps things light when everyone is stressed.”
• make everyone laugh — to say or do something funny enough that the whole group laughs“He can make everyone laugh even on a bad day.”
• the person who reads the room — someone who quickly notices the mood and reactions of other people“She is the person who reads the room and knows when to speak.”