Things have been stressful lately. Between all the stuff going on and my elevated hormonal state, I just keep bursting into tears at random moments.
During a bad moment in the day, I escaped to the bedroom to pull myself together. I don’t like losing it in front of the kids. They’ll discover this world has its rough spots soon enough, but for now, I like to keep them thinking the worst thing in the world is being denied a second pack of fruit snacks or having to leave the park early.
“What’s wrong, mom?” Neko tiptoed into the bedroom.
“I’m just having a bad day,” I replied.
I heard her little feet pad out of the room and then back in. “I brought you Cinderelly. She will make you feel better.” She climbed into bed and gave me several big hugs, and then she snuggled down under the covers. “I will be your cuddlebuddy.”
And those are the moments when you remember why you had children, and think that, just maybe, you’re doing a pretty okay job after all.