Bad Day, Good Day

Yesterday was a bad day. As Tom will attest to, I am not one who handles stress well, and I am a constant worrier. I'd like to think I've made progress over the years, but maybe I just bury it all inside and then let it explode in random fits on some poor soul.

I was stressed because it was the day before the deadline for my photo reshoot, and I didn't get all the shots needed. I stayed up late editing what I did have, but ultimately dissatisfied with myself for not fulfilling the assignment. I didn't want to let the photo company down (again, hence the reshoot), and I was afraid that if I didn't do a good job, they wouldn't ask me back. There was a lot riding on this assignment and I let it get the best of me.

Yesterday Yoshi pushed all my buttons and I unleashed my fury on her--yelling, swearing, throwing. One of my lowest points of parenting. It was unfair to take my stress out on her. Her spirit completely broke.

But today is a new day. I apologized to her yesterday evening, and again this morning, telling her that I should not lose my cool since I'm the parent and she's a kid. But damn, the kid don't make it easy, that's fo' sho. (I kept that part to myself though.)

I went to work, brought along the photo-product and camera with the hopes I could find someone to photograph before I send off all the images. I met Tom and a couple of his work buddies down at Minna and 5th for Off The Grid, Jereme being one of them. I wrangled JMoe into being my model for the last photos I needed, which was pretty easy since he's always a good sport and up for anything.

I sent off the images in the nick of time, left the office to pick Yoshi up from school (albeit slightly late), picked up some bread at the Farmer's market, and then came home to an email from the Photo People saying that they love the new pics. Yay! All that previous stress turned into relief and euphoria. And I know Tom would say, "See... all that stress and worry for nothing."

I can breathe again. Happily.