Perspective

Miss Peanut and I went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner tonight. Since the WCM was at a Fossil Club meeting ('cause Fossils are free - you can dig 'em up yourself!), we had ourselves a Girl's Night Out. Miss Peanut loves Outback because of their Spotted Dog Sundae. My bit of parental responsibility is to insist that she eat her meat before getting the sundae. My kid loves meat, so it's not a hardship for her.

Tonight, though...

Let me preface this by telling you that the little monster has a cold. She's been a bit cranky with it, too. She was really getting on my nerves at the restaurant, as she whined at me. She was tired, she didn't want to color, she wanted a hug, she had to lie down. I was the mean mommy who wouldn't let her have her way - Sit still, sit up, hug later, inside voice! After all, most parents know that, in child terms, tired + hungry = cranky, and tonight seemed to fit that equation. It's a logical equation, but that doesn't stop the combination from being iritating as hell, though.

I cut her meat in small pieces for her and, silently fuming, dug into my own dinner, as in Mommy terms, irritated + hungry = raving mad bitch. I'm thankful that I always watch Miss Peanut eat (we're working on table manners), as she choked on the very first bite. I was out of my seat and pounding her on the back in less than a second, and she brought up the poorly-chewed piece of meat.

As she clung to me, crying, I no longer cared that she had been a pain in the arse 30 seconds ago. She was alive.

And, strangely enough, she was still hungry. She finished her meat and got her Spotted Dog Sundae.

What I got?

Perspective.