The school group chat started at 6:58 a.m.

Dear Delyara, By the time I opened my eyes properly, there were already six messages about costume day, one parent asking whether children needed trainers or black shoes, and another one kindly sharing a printable form I had absolutely no emotional relationship to at that hour. I know none of these people mean harm. That’s not the point. The point is that modern parenting no longer waits for reasonable moments. It enters the bed, the kettle, the bathroom mirror, the first sip of tea. It arrives before the day has even introduced itself properly and asks for decisions in a tone of total normality. I answered what needed answering. Then I felt annoyed at all of them for existing before coffee.