My daughter wanted help with her project and I resented the glitter before I even opened it

Dear Delyara, That’s how I knew I was too tired. She was excited. Poster board, cut-outs, glitter pens, all of it spread across the table like a child’s idea of an interesting evening. Normally I can enter that world more easily. Yesterday I looked at the glitter and felt immediate dread. Not because of her. Because of the effort required to become enthusiastic while already emotionally threadbare. I did help. I sat with her. I praised the good parts and kept the glitter from reaching every surface in the room. But privately I mourned the easier version of myself who used to have more room for this kind of thing at the end of the day.