I hate fall, spring and winter break around my neighborhood. Our midday, peaceful walks become an attempt to escape the parade of children following us screaming “OH DOGGY! CAN I PET YOUR DOG?! OMG IT’S A PUPPY!” My mindfulness transforms into anxiety, as I end up repeating myself 18 times with, “No, he doesn’t like being pet.” That statement, in my brain, translates to, “No, because he doesn’t like children, so please go away and leave us alone.”