I had one of those terrible days recently; no sleep the night before for thinking – you know when your head is just spinning with the 5 million things you must remember to do. We’re selling our house and I’m not sure that the agent really understands how difficult it is to have our home looking like the Vogue Living cover for two open inspections each week for four weeks. I say “I have a four and a half year old.” by way of explanation. He just looks at me, blankly.

Siena woke up in a bad mood for seemingly no reason and was objecting to any kind of consolation. Nothing was working. And it was only 7am. I needed an industrial strength coffee if I was going to make it through the day, without a major meltdown; not Siena, me.

Once the caffeine kicked in I felt semi-normal, ironed clothes, breakfast was had, hid all the mess in various cupboards, vacummed the house (yes, I know) and headed out for the day. I felt alright. There was sense of false security in that, as I will illustrate below.

I dropped Siena into day care. Driving into work was like navigating a Nascar racetrack;  it seemed like everyone needed to be where they were going, yesterday. Including me. I had about three near accidents and had to stop the car and breathe very deeply before continuing after the last one. Not a great start. It’s 9.00am. Where’s my Bach flower emergency remedy? Gulped that down and continued on.

Work was strange that day. I had to jump hoops and hurdles to get through the day and people had a sense of entitlement about what they needed. Whingeing people, who just aren’t happy, no matter what you do. These people are generally impolite and impatient and on a good day, I can turn this kind of situation around but today I had no patience or empathy for anyone but myself (pot calling the kettle black). Needless to say, there are about four poor souls out there in the world that are currently of the belief that I am a rude cow and all I can say about that right now is ‘Moo.’

The day proceeded down that same track, unfortunately. My parking card would not work so after a few minutes trying to escape the car park, I naughtily followed someone out without paying. (I then couldn’t enter the car park the next day as I was logged on and being ‘present’ already. Joy.) I just wanted to be home on the lounge, with my trackie daks on, a herbal tea and Corrine Bailey Rae on the Bose. No such luck.

Picked up Siena, who was in a foul mood still, had to cook dinner from whatever was around the kitchen as I was not going to risk going to the shops in my current state. Siena ate little of what I made for her and after I explained that dinner was not negotiable,  Siena staged a major tantrum whereby dinner ended up everywhere but in her mouth. I started to have my own special tantrum. Halfway through my rant I realised I was turning into everything I didn’t want to be, an unhappy, stressed out mum who was kind of out of control. Stay calm. Think. Do something positive. I gave in to the day and hopped in the bath with her and played. I just gave it all up. It worked.

What I was that day, was a whingeing mother and I was sick of myself. How you behave in the face of what life dishes out makes all the difference. It’s a choice you make and I finally chose peace instead of war.

With fresh pj’s on and  Dr Seuss awaiting, we crawled into bed at 7.30pm, read our book and at long last, lights were out and we snuggled in (or huggled in, as Siena says) for our well deserved sleep. Two whingers, finally asleep…

 I don’t have those kind of days all that often, or maybe I do, but I handle them better. Tomorrow will be a better day. I’m sure of it. 

See you next month, Cath