EXCERPT FROM EMAIL TO A RELATIVE

I've been trying to arrange a good time for Rose's doting older cousin to visit. My description of the after-school time as Rose's fussiest time of day is a reminder to me of how generally unhappy our baby has been lately. . .

"Rose's most antisocial time of day is that period between after school and the kids' bedtime! . . Rose has been particularly irritable lately, and generally won't sit to be cuddled by anyone but me! Sometimes even I'm not good enough either! A friend dropped in last week, and he had to follow me around while I paced with squawking Rose."

Poor little girl - the truth, when I really think about it, is that she's miserable most of the time.