I've been up since 3 am, unsettled and slightly feverish. I blame it squarely on the kids.

This has been a rough couple of days for me - the kids have been edgy, my fuse has been shorter than usual, and I have no backup to speak of. It is survival mode, all the way. By four o'clock yesterday afternoon, I had so much pent up anger that I put on my earbud things and jogged in place for half an hour. And I'm not a jogger. But I figure it is better than kicking holes in walls or throwing things at my children, shooting gallery-style.

Although, come to all that, I bet the kids would think it was fun if I tried to bean them with stuffed animals as they ran past the doorway. Hmm...

This too shall pass. This too shall pass. This too shall pass.

I don't understand where all this anger is coming from lately. I am not overbooked. I've been taking plenty of downtime to enjoy myself and my family. We've got vacation plans to look forward to, and we've been healthy most of the spring. I've even been sleeping well. Except last night, but I'm focusing on the big picture.

So why am I so angry? I don't know exactly. I know that my kids are demanding more of my time and energy than usual. There are a lot of tears around here. Over things like Corn Chex and pencil sharpeners. I couldn't explain it if I tried. My youngest, at four, keeps pooping her pants. I suspect it is for fun, although she assures me that she was just playing and the poop popped out. My oldest, who got busted for scratching a fellow student the other day, can't keep her hands to herself. My son can't stop talking, and most of what he has to say involves bodily functions and/or other things I'd rather not talk about.

I'm trying my hardest to remain calm, at least outwardly. By yesterday evening, I felt like I had an annoying, buzzing insect in my ear. I found myself demanding silence, pulling kids off of one another by the scruffs of their necks, redirecting to new activities, and refusing to listen to any tattling. Lather, rinse, repeat. Again and again and again.

You know, it just dawned on me that we had a really bad-eating weekend. Lots of sugar and junk food for both me and the kids. I think I've been jinxed by sugar. Crap.

I've known that the kids and I are sugar-sensitive for months now, and we've been doing well with eliminating refined sugars from the house and whatnot. But this weekend we went on a bender, and I've been paying for it for days. DUH! Okay, then. Withdrawal, here we come!

I've got a new review up at Three Kid Circus Auditions today - this is a fabulous Mother's Day idea - go check it out!

Also - my review of Volver is up at BlogHer - check that out, too!