Post Holiday Depression

So, it's been a helluva weekend.
Let me start by saying that the holiday break was wonderful. It was nice to have Tim home for an entire week. It was nice to be able to spend quality time with my kids. It was nice.
The first week back to normal life was difficult.
I really wish we, as Americans, didn't have to work 8+ hour days. I really wish we could stay at home and raise our families without worry of money or health care costs or crime. I really wish the world were a simpler place. With that being said, the week wasn't rough because of those things specifically, but because of one little toddler. I love her dearly, but she was possessed by the Devil this past week. (And this will all make sense in a minute, I promise.)
Anyway, this week Audrey regressed to the point that I thought I was going to have to put her back in diapers. No joke. She's been emulating the little boys that I watch during the day and I can't quite figure out why. She's been talking baby talk, throwing major tantrums and basically pissing me off every chance she gets.
My point from earlier is that I wish I had a chance to just focus on my kid. I feel like I need to stop everything I'm doing and grab her up, whisk her away for a week, everything would be fine. She's obviously starved for attention. That can't happen. I must work, pay bills, wash dishes, do laundry, yadda yadda yadda.
Don't get me wrong. I make a point to give her special attention, but I think coming off the holidays has hit her the hardest. Obviously.
This evening I almost snapped (for the second time this weekend). Tim looked over at me and asked, "Are you going to make it? What are you thinking about?"
I must have looked pissed or about to cry or something. Who knows.
I said, "I'm thinking about running away." And I was.
Instead, I decided that Audrey and I were going to walk up to the coffee house, ALONE.
Tim was a little scared that he was being left with Harper. (That deserves its own post- another time.) I just needed to get out of the house and try to remedy whatever is going on with Audrey.
My plan totally backfired.
Audrey was a complete pill the whole time we were there. The high point was when she refused to sit on her bottom in her chair and knocked the table over that supported our hot drinks.
Yes, coffee and hot chocolate all over the place (including our persons). She then proceeded to bawl at the loudest level imaginable and sit on the floor (in mentioned liquids). It was a lovely bonding moment.
Defeated, I almost cried in public.
I don't know how I found it in me, but I breathed a deep breath, comforted her and grabbed some paper towels. We cleaned it up together. In the end, all was made well by what remained of our beverages and a good book about monsters.

On our way home, I could hear Harper's screams from outside the house.
My job, it never ends.