by Becky Vieira posted in Parenting

My dear husband,
As soon as I open my mouth I know what?s about to come out. Frustration. Passive aggressive comments. A crappy attitude.
I know you don?t deserve it. But I can?t help myself. 
At the end of some days I simply have no patience left. It?s all gone. And you?re the one who suffers because of it.
I?m not impatient by nature. True, I?m known for a well-timed eye roll. But counting it among my top traits" You know that?s just not me.
It?s different now that I?m a mom. Children require patience. A lot of it. More than I ever realized, in fact. Today I had to sit by while our son insisted he could put on his own shoes. 
He can?t yet, as you know. But that didn?t stop him from trying. I watched. Waited, as if paralyzed because he wouldn?t let me help. It was torture. But I did it. I smiled sweetly. Encouraged him. And finally convinced him to let me help. 
Next was the park. It was all fun and games until it was time to go. He didn?t want to leave. Arched his back and screamed. Went limp on the ground as if all his bones had dissolved. 

I kept my cool. Picked him up time and time again while his stiffened body slid through my arms. I calmed him down eventually. But if I had to guess I?d say that incident alone took up about 37 percent of my day?s patience reserve. 
My gauge was hovering on empty. Then you came home. 
You saw the empty pizza box in the recycling bin. You just had to ask, didn?t you. Did I eat the last ...