Our eldest, Bernadette the twelve-year-old, has reached the stage of truly nurturing and shepherding her youngest siblings. She cares for them, and she bosses them around, and in general plays the role of a second mother.
And so Teresa the five-year-old stopped in front of her today and began, “Mama?” Then she blinked and tried again: “I mean, Papa?” And then blinked and tried again: “I mean, Bernadette?”
