Today, Dee writes:

I knew when I started my 90-day weight loss challenge that I would have to eventually have to confront uncontrollable outside forces. I didn’t know it would be on Day 4. Yesterday as I was just to leave work, I received three simultaneous phone calls from the three other members of my family.

Caller #1

My oldest teenage daughter was livid after her little sister borrowed (without asking) her brand new Victoria’s Secret bra.

Caller #2

My youngest teenage daughter was crying hysterically because. she loaned the bra to a friend that proceeded to call her a rude bitch.

Caller #3

My husband called to say he was grounding them from their cars for fighting;  he was placing all their clothes in the garbage;  and was going out to “golf” for the night (AKA drink with buddies at the local beach bar).

That’s only Part one.

Part two involved my plan to tidy up the guest room for a weekend houseguest.  I came home and found it carpeted wall to wall in my daughter’s clothes.  I then received a text with photos of my father and little brother’s Southern Indiana property after a massive wildfire.

Due to guestroom cleaning demands, I cancelled a meeting with a friend from church who is currently withdrawling from Oxycontin.  This was all before 6 pm! Feeling exhausted from cleaning, stressed that my hubby was with bar friends, sad my daughter was bullied, and guilty for not helping my needy friend and brother, I caved and found temporary comfort in beer, chips and chocolate cake.  Prior to these outside forces attacking,  I had eaten squash, grilled chicken, a banana, and a pineapple-ricemilk smoothie for breakfast.

Note to self: set up a hurricane preparedness plan! Perhaps I’ll put my tennis shoes and shorts on tonight so that when things hit the fan I can walk out the front door for some aerobic relief. The closest liquor store is more than two miles away on foot so I should be safe.

Dear Dee—

 I can feel your pain with every word.  I’m not surprised that you finally gave in!  When I come home to chaos rather than the perfect fantasy of rest and relaxation that I daydream about, I go postal!  I will agree that a brisk walk after work does help.  I occasionally sneak one in before I even hit the door because I can’t remember the last time I arrived home to peace in the house. Remember, you didn’t make any of those bad choices—they did.  You can start fresh tomorrow with a revised attitude of self confidence because you are awesome!