Just because I've had one of those days that is really hard to understand...
Most everyone in my life realizes that I am allergic to all children except my own, and they, from time to time, make me break out in hives. But today I wouldn't have minded my bus aide gig lasting a little longer. I was in a mood and didn't want to come home because I knew the mood would turn into A Mood and was bound to get ugly at some point.
There is one person in my life who can always bring me around. Okay, there's a little tiny person who will one day hold the same gift; she's just not old enough yet. But Grace has this thing about her. I don't know how to explain it except to say that she is a healer of hearts. Regardless of what kind of day I am having or what kind of mood I am in, she's right there. And a lot of those days and moods are partially because she is being out of hand and a little too big for her own britches. But still.
We were knee deep in the bedtime Dance of Diversion tonight. "Mama,  I had a nightmawah."
"No, you didn't, Grace, because you haven't been to sleep yet. You tried this last night. And the night before last. And the night before that..."
I could see her mentally switching gears as I was tidying up my bed and doing all the things that I didn't want to do after the girls had fallen to sleep for fear of waking them. "Mama? I willy willy want to sweep in your bed."
"Nope."
"But, mama! I willy willy want to sweep in your bed. Pweese?"
"Nope."
"But, mama-"
"Grace, the answer has been and will remain 'no.'"
"Why not, mama? I willy willly want to sweep in your bed."
"No, no, no. I don't have any room for willies in my bed, Grace."
And with that I looked at her and we simultaneously erupted into belly jiggling laughter. Maybe it was the fact that we were both very tired. Or maybe it was the fact that I had simply reached my bullshit tolerance for the day and needed to laugh. Whatever the reason, it worked.