How did it happen

that I bought a kitten for my mother for Mother’s Day, and she loved the cat, but my step-father gave good reasons why it was a bad idea.  My parents had all the cat stuff still in the house, one and a half years after their old cat passed away after 17 years.

How did it happen

that I meant well, but now I have a kitten because the sellers wouldn’t take her back.  “Lol.  You can put an ad on craigslist” was their text.  

How did it happen

that my daughter who wanted this kitten, complains that she can’t swing her in a bucket, or jump on the bed with her, or ride her in her toy shopping cart, or play roughhouse with her.

How did it happen

that I tried to do everything right for my daughter, and I feel so unappreciated.  Maybe you can’t appreciate something unless you know what it’s like without it.

How did it happen

that my daughter, who wanted to go to a park today, complained that it isn’t the park she wanted.

How did it happen

that I had such high expectations for myself, and I’m messing up even when I don’t want to.

How did it happen

that I have intense feelings of love for my daughter, but times like these I feel so hollow I should probably be alone.

How did it happen

that I waited so long to get married, afraid that I wouldn’t marry “the one,” only to experience divisions in my relationship

How did it happen

that I tried so hard, read so much, worked hard, and missed the mark

How did it happen

that everything ends up “okay,” then starts all over again.

How did it happen?