I want her to know what's driving me away for a week. Here is what I want to say:
***************
Mom,
"Don't put your shoes on, you're getting back in bed."
"What?"
(a little louder) "Don't put your shoes on, you're getting back in bed."
"What?"
(louder still) "Don't put your shoes on, you're getting back in bed!"
"What?"
(loudest) "Don't put your shoes on, you're getting back in bed!!"
"I'm not"
"What are you doing??"
"I'm pulling them over."
"Ok."
I hear versions of this over and over during the day... and night... last night I put something in the kitchen just after lights out. Then, it went like this:
"Oh damn, I have to pee."
"What?!"
"I have to pee."
"You do not!"
"Yes."
"You do NOT!! You just got in bed."
"I have to pee."
"Well go ahead then! Do it yourself, I'm tired!" (then, bitterly) "Call me if you need my help."
The worst comes without your immediate input, in the early morning, around 6:20.
(tap, tap, tap) "Hellooo?""Unh, huh? Dad? That you? What's up, what's happening?" (I sit up in bed, rubbing my eyes awake.)
(he totters into my room) "Can you help me?"
"Sure! What do you need?"
"Well, your mother's on a rampage. She refuses to help me. I... I don't know what I've done. I want to get dressed and she just berates me and won't help."
"Oh dad, I think she just doesn't like getting up so early? But you haven't done anything wrong. You just want to get dressed, yeah? And you need help with it now. So. I'll help you."
"Alright, dear, thank you, dear." (The worst part is he gets choked up saying this.) "I just don't know what I've done wrong."
"It isn't you, dad. It isn't your fault. I'll come help you get dressed, just give me a second to put on my robe and I'll meet you in your bathroom and give you some help. Ok? I'll meet you there."
"Thank you, daughter." (and he totters out)
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