My madness

Yesterday morning I was frantically running around the house, trying to get the kids ready for their day.  Mornings - especially Monday mornings - can be hectic:  We have to leave the house in time to pick up Elliot, one of Chloe's schoolmates, to carpool to school, to get there right when the doors open, so that I can get them all settled and dart off to Ben's group - 40 minutes away - that actually starts 20 minutes later.  Anyone who knows me knows that I'm pathologically on time.  Being late causes me irrational amounts of anxiety.  I wish I could learn to be ok with being late.  Anyway, on this morning (as happens most mornings), Chloe was giving me a hard time about brushing her hair.  I got upset and stormed off to finish the other preparations I was making.  Now, I know that it's not always easy to tell when I'm upset - my facial expression certainly doesn't show it easily (...not!) but somehow Chloe could tell that I was upset.  She went to her dad, who brushed her hair and put it in a very cute daddy-like ponytail.  Proudly, she presented herself to me, hair brushed.  Well, I was still upset, and kept going about my business.  Aaron said, are you upset?  And I said, yes.  He said, well, let's talk about it.  I went about my business preparing lunches and bags.  (As I write this I do have to wonder, with some embarrassment, why Chloe not letting me brush her hair was so upsetting...  But in the interest of honesty, I will portray myself accurately)  This went on for a few more minutes.  Then Chloe, exasperated, said, Mom, now when will you get over this madness?  Oh boy, she is an old soul.  That, of course, made me laugh.  I said, now, and gave her a kiss.  She smiled and said, Oh mama.