You sit exhausted on the couch. All day you've given, functioned, organized. Now you just need ten minutes of peace. Ten. Tiny. Minutes.
But your child has other plans. They're jumping on the sofa, singing loudly, wanting to play. "Mom, look!" "Dad, come!" Anger rises in you like a hot wave. Why can't they understand that you need a break too?
Does this sound familiar? Perhaps you know these moments too:
Your child ignores your lovingly prepared meal
Your teenager blocks you when you want to hug them
Your child refuses to leave the playground although you need to get home
The pain runs deep. The disappointment burns in your chest. Your shoulders tense, your jaw clenches. In your head it hammers: "Why does nobody see what I need? Am I worth nothing? Must I always just function?"