be in the eye of the storm

To be at the center of or deeply involved in an especially difficult, stressful, or hectic situation or period of time. The "eye," or center, of a storm is surrounded by the strongest winds. The boss is furious about this blunder—if you go into her office now, you'll be in the eye of the storm. I didn't realize that there were protests going on in my neighborhood today, so I was really in the eye of the storm when I left my house. My mother was in the eye of the storm for Thanksgiving, cooking dinner for us and all of our extended family who had come to visit.