The Universe is not trying to do things to you. It responds to your choices and actions.

I don't think a whining drunk is ideal company for children. I expect he would parentify and burden them complaining about how everything is out to get him.

heres a trick I learned about managing emotion. My emotions are not my core. They are changeable like the weather. I think I am the mountain, moods blow past, and I am still standing when the clouds break.

This sometimes works for me. Even my dad liked the idea, and we can all blame him for passing down his depression and an ability to use our brains to make everything worse with overthinking. The old dog still learns new tricks!

Apparently a loud restaurant for lunch was all I needed at this point to have an anxiety attack. Bad choice on my part. And now my mother is mad. My in laws don't want to be exposed to a sick kid. So our anniversary plans are probably off as well.

askye - go you on catching the brain weasels.

Teppy - you tried to be supportive and he is pissing away every chance he has to make good choices. YOU are caring for yourself and Tim - your priorities are in the right place.

sj - toddlers have an amazing ability to hurt themselves and bounce right back. I think we parents feel more pain than they do when things like this happen.

Yeah, she's fine. I've been pushing through my own pain for a week. So teo mornings of stressing out about her was apparently too much for my body. I'm going to nap while she does and hopefully feel better.

Teppy - you tried to be supportive and he is pissing away every chance he has to make good choices. YOU are caring for yourself and Tim - your priorities are in the right place.

This. You have already gone above and beyond.

May the nap be renewing for both of you, sj.

Thanks, Laura. I woke up with a headache, but at least I got some sleep.

Jilli, ltc's favorite new show is Vampirina, on the Disney Channel.

Tim's boss is paying for not!son to stay in a moderately sketchy motel near work. I have no idea for how long. And, the thing is, since I decided I am staying out of this from now on, then I'm also staying out of this decision, too. Though I told Tim he might want to sit down with his boss tomorrow and be VERY clear about not!son's situation, just so boss knows what's what.

I don't bear not!son any ill will. Certainly not. I don't want him to freeze (the lows are going to be in the 20s this weekend). But *I'm* not going to be responsible for him not freezing any longer. Thanks to Tim's boss, not!son will be warm and can get a shower and a good night's sleep. And that's that.

I like that mountain metaphor, KB.

Hope you're rid of the bedbug man for good, Tep.

Tim's boss must like Tim very much to do that for him.