Just - Don't Tell Me

This was the second day in a row that someone told me something. The tone was chipper and uplifting -

"Wow, you look - "

My brain - good, great, together, wonderful, accomplished. I lost a few pounds. I did a lot today and feel pretty good about that.

"exhausted."

Oh.... I forget what the exact word was, tired, exhausted, over whelmed, something to that effect. It's all true of course, but I thought I at least appeared together.

I was surrounded by other mothers... maybe they can spot it better than others due to familiarity. Kinda like how animals are supposed to smell fear.

As I drove home I realized I can feel my eyelids dragging lower than normal. They feel heavy.... and poofy.

We had three commitments in two days. That may not sound like much, but with four young kids it really is. It's a production just getting out the door and half the time when you crawl into the driver's seat you begin debating whether it's worth it to leave at all or throw your hands in the air and drag everyone back inside.

This morning for example, breakfast was early. It needed to be eaten BEFORE we left the house just after eight. This is very early since I usually don't have breakfast on the table till nine. Anyway, it's time to go - "I'm hungry!"

"Grab your muffins and toast and get in the car or we'll be late."

Fifteen minutes later, I'm buckling Howler in her seat, " Hungry!"

"Where's your bread?"- Me
"Gone." - Howler
"She lost it!" - Tamarin
"The dog ate it!" - Lemur
*sigh*
"I've got bread!" - Tamarin holds up the bag of rolls Grandma had given her the day before that never left the car.
"No - you ate yours." - Lemur
"I have bread." - Tamarin
"Hungry!" - Howler

Unlock, turn off alarm, run into kitchen, grab a piece of bread, alarm, lock, in the car.

"NO, IT'S NOT. IT'S ROLLS!!"
"YES IT IS!!"

The thirty seconds it took me to run inside was enough time for the conversation between Tamarin and Lemur to devolve into a screaming match over whether roll and bread can refer to the same item. Seriously?!

New policy -  the car needs to be quiet when I climb in, no exceptions. For everyone else, do me a favor - If you see me and I look awful, just don't tell me. I already know, but allow me the fantasy that it's not obvious :p