I hope I have enough vodka...

This is not the type of text that you want to get on your drive home from work:

"Hi, just wanted to let you know that Laurel is in a mood."

Oh crap..you never get the text that says she is in a great mood.  My first unfiltered thought was "Oh Christ, I hope I have enough vodka at home (tsk..bad mom).


My second thought is why is she in a bad mood?  She has the world by a string.  She is in kindergarten..no homework or academic pressures. Too young for puberty- her skin is totally clear.  She isn't trolling for a date to the prom (which means she isn't getting shot down. Jude--bitter table for 1? It's still there for you.)  College apps?  Nope. Lack of job? Nope.  Dead end job?  Nope.  Rachel probably ate a favorite crayon or something.


My third thought was that I am grateful this didn't happen during the morning drop off.  When this mood happens in the morning, it totally sucks.  Call it what it is.  The other morning, Laurel could not stop crying.  The harder she would try, the worse it would become.  And I couldn't pull out any of my second weapons (Santa, scolding, comforting, bribing..nothing) because that would backfire and make her cry more.  Of course we are inside the school when this was happening so teachers were giving me the "What did you do?" look. Rachel is having a grand time dragging a rubber trash can down the hall squealing with glee.  And all I could hear was the tick, tick, tick of the clock, telling me that "you are so freakin' late." Then I feel guilty that I am thinking about being late rather than my daughter who is in a constant puddle of tears.

As I open the door, it's eerily quiet.  I am told that Laurel wants to be left alone, doesn't want to be around anyone for awhile.  She IS my daughter!