one...two....three...

Four...Five...

I'm trying to bring my blood pressure back down to a safe level...

six...seven...

Dealing with - breathe in...breathe out - my children...

Just need to make it known that I do, IN FACT, love my children.  Or at least I am reminding myself of that fact right now...

eight...nine...

Someday, hopefully, I'm sure I'll look back on this lovely, lovely stage in their I-know-everything and it's-my-job-to-question-every-word-that-comes-out-of-my-mother's-mouth-life, and...

ten...

laugh.

Maybe not.

Maybe I will just not run away and let them live.

(Cleansing breath)