Stress is bad mmmkay

So, my heart does this weird thing that makes me breathless now and again. The doctor's can't figure out why, and my only sure-fire cause is stress. I think I got a little stressed this afternoon. And by evening it had really taken it's toll. Either that, or I have had it up *here* (finger under chin) with my willful daughter. I was losing my breath and my chest felt all funny and she just WOULD NOT lay down so I could read her the bedtime story. And I told her that "I don't feel well, so would you PLEASE lay down and LISTEN to your story or I will leave". I have no idea how many chances I gave her before I mentally said "F it" and said "Goodnight" and walked out of her room. You should have heard the fit she gave then, with declarations of behaving, which she had given 10 minutes before.

Now we know that sometimes she isn't ready for bed, so she IS allowed to play or color or whatever till she's ready. But she kept saying that she WAS ready. But then totally did not act ready. I got fed up (gee, is this an object lesson?).

Sometimes it is better to walk away, get some tea, and let them bawl it out rather than loose your temper -- and I was certainly close to losing mine. I need a punching bag. That would be nice to have around the house.

Mmmm tea, and quietude. I feel better now. Marginally. My heart is doing it's thing again. Grrrr.

Annette
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I find it interesting that the meanest life, the poorest existence, is attributed to God's will, but as human beings become more affluent, as their living standard and style begin to ascend the material scale, God descends the scale of responsibility at commensurate speed.
--Maya Angelou, 1970