We're into the last 11 days of school, but - with my 11-year-old's 5th grade graduation and my 5-year-old graduating kindergarten - it is a very stressful time of year and reading Crank Mama's latest article in Rugrat Reprieve, I was able to relate to many of the signs that she believes signal it might be time for a Mommy Break.

"Laughing inappropriately when your kids get hurt, hoping your husband trips on the wet towel he left on the floor, burgeoning rage when you see that someone moved your special spoon, sensation that  there are a million swarming bees inside your brain all demanding more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

Funny, but It's true - although, my stress level has ebbed and flowed over time - I've seen plenty of women go from Mary Poppins to Scary Mommy in a blink of an irriated red eye to know when a person's in desperate need of a break; myself included.

You can almost see it coming.

[cringing in recognition]

It's difficult to ignore and - especially, when bright red flashy lights are going off in the back of my head - some times, it takes all my strength, or whatever's left in my mommy reserves, not to haul off and go all cranky, too.

"I have to go to the bathroom!"

We went to our local high school to watch my 5-year-old daughter's girl scout bridging ceremony - from Daisies to Brownies - and I had just placed my purse down on the seat next to me (my husband was held up in traffic) when my 8-year-old son's bladder kicked in.

"Why didn't you tell me before we sat down!?!"

I asked my 13-year-old to watch our seats, while I dropped my 5-year-old with her leaders and my 11-year-old helped my son find a bathroom - I pushed them all (gently) toward the aisle.

"Excuse them, please."

She didn't.

"I just sat down...oh, for the love of...can't they wait!"

[red, flashy lights]

"I'm sorry, to cause you so much trouble - better they get it all out, now."

It wasn't.

"OUCH...you just stepped on my toe...why don't you wait, until I get up!"

I quickly exchanged glances with the woman in front of her, smiled at her adorable baby and waited.

"Thank you, very much."

I saw the signs - most everyone else in the auditorium had the same look - besides, she was way bigger than me (I'm 5' 10')  and, truth be told, the woman scared me!  I decided to go back up the other side of the aisle and not bother her, again, and breathed a huge sigh of relief to find her gone and the woman in front of her empty seat, smiling.

"I give you credit, you handled yourself very well."

No, not really - if only she'd heard the buzzing in my head - she got a mommy reprieve, that's all.  

"Oh, it's crazy in here; she was just being cranky and I thought I'd give her a break!"

[cue red, falshy lights]

"She's lucky it wasn't me, or I would have broken her legs!"

Yes, she morphed right in front of me and - though, I recognized that look her eyes, right away - I swear, I didn't even see it coming!