One boy got sick, the fourth grader. He has a slight fever this morning. However, he has begun to yo-yo again, so I think he’s on the mend. He felt quite hot all day yesterday so he can’t go to school. The whizzing sound of yo-yo in motion will be mine all day long. It’s nice to see him stand on two feet and to hear his voice again above a whisper.

Didn’t he look “peaky” yesterday?

Saskia hung with her adorable and wonderful cousins and aunt and grandparents on Saturday. For whatever is complicated about family—any family, to be sure—that line I’ve clung to from the start—more love is more love—remains, to my thinking and in my heart, true.

Teenagers and conflict-averse, constitutionally placating parents make a poor pairing. Say that three times fast.