Another awardless day

Rain. Errands. Cooler than normal temperatures. Tired child. I made it all the way through the grocery store (the last errand) without getting randomly irritated with the selection, or making a snide comment about the music being played. We arrived home at precisely 12-noon for lunch. J had been quiet in the back, but not sleeping. And then I found out why.

I opened the door for her to climb out, only to find her crying. Her hands were covered in her berry chewing gum, and some of it was also in her hair. In the very FRONT of her hair that does not include bangs, about halfway down the strands. Given that she got gum in her hair while on the road with her dad not two weeks ago, and given that I had reminded her not once but twice this morning to keep her hands out of her mouth (the latter time while she was actively playing with her gum), I was furious.

The whole time I cleaned her up, I kept trying to pry myself out of my rotten mood, to change my rotten reaction, but I failed. There was lots of grumbling, "Jesus H. Christ!" under my breath as I tried first ice, then rubbing alcohol. She wailed to have her hands clean, and to eat her lunch. It was not pretty. I then found that peanut butter works like a champ (some rubbing still required, but still) on skin, and olive oil plus a comb work miracles on hair.

We sat quietly together eating lunch after all had been cleaned up. She would make a tentative comment, and I would give a forced, bright answer. I trundled her off to bed for a requested nap, and we had a nice reading session beforehand. She seems none the worse for wear, but I still feel guilty.

Blah.