this totally made my day, CoastalMom. i'm SO glad that little trick was useful for your son! i fully plan to remind DD of that "kid" as time goes on... i've got a phrase all ready to go: "oh! there's that random mean kid again - how about you tell her you don't need her right now?" i have no idea if it'll work, but at the very least, it'll probably get a laugh from DD...

PM me any time if you need an ear - this stuff is really hard.

Every Sunday it brooded and lay on the floor. Inconveniently close to the drawing-room door.