Wine.

You pour yourself a glass of dry red and sit back down on the couch to relax, which is so much easier to do without Janie around. Your son is awake now in his room. You can hear him playing, probably with his action figures. Your daughter, the youngest of your brood, is still napping, and the rest of your kids are at school. "Please, God," you say aloud, rubbing your temples. "Don't let any of them turn out like Janie."

You're about to turn on the television when you feel your phone vibrate in the pocket of your pajama pants. Yes, you're still in your pajamas, drinking wine at one o'clock in the afternoon, and if anyone out there thinks they can do better while raising five kids, you'd love it if they would come on over and try. You could use a 15-minute break.

Rick has responded, you see. Good. You were hoping to have this resolved and out of mind before Josh gets home.