Older child was upset with younger child and ordering her around in a not-so-nice voice. I told him that this was not a nice way to talk, and she chimes in “Yes, Mitchell’s don’t talk to people like that.”

I swear that it was the 100th time she had called my name, pleading, plaintively, “Mommy” from the backseat of the car as I battled traffic to get her to school on time and get back to a 9:15 meeting. “What do you want!” I snapped. I did not look back, but in my mind’s eye, I could see her…

Baby girl announces she is now a princess. Me: “OK Baby girl.” She corrects me: “Say OK Princess.”

Baby girl says that she wants to play with big brother’s friend, Jack. Big brother: “No, he is my friend, not yours.” Baby girl: “Okay, I want to play with Jill”. And then laughs hysterically.

Me on the phone: “I’ve been banging my head on a problem all day.” Older child pipes up from the back seat: “Mommy, did it hurt?”