Out the door

Rough Day · grey-box toy v0.3 (turns)

7:30 am. Daycare drop-off. You need to leave by 7:45 with breakfast eaten, the bag packed, and shoes on. Kai is three, and he is at the table.

Each turn is one minute, and Kai does one thing. You can respond to it, or let it pass. Not everything needs an answer. A minute where you do nothing with him is a minute you pack the bag, and minutes in a row go faster. Every time you look up, you start slow again.

• Inspect (1 ⚡): read his state. It is always safe.
• Ask (free): get his words. That is risky when he is angry.
• Cards are things you can do. What you say changes with the moment. The same card at the wrong moment makes it worse.
• Sometimes what he says and what his body says do not match. Then you can name the real need.
• “Uh-huh” (free): answer without looking up. You keep your focus, but he only gets half of you.
• Your own thoughts show up too. Breathe answers them.

Leave whenever you want with Pick him up and go. Whatever you leave undone comes with you.

v0.1 (real time)