The Daily Dive

Today I had to drive Caroline around in the car for an hour while she slept--just like when you have a baby that melts down but then won't take a nap. Car travel is calming to her for some reason, so we use it not infrequently. She was fine after that, until about 5:00 when she takes her daily dive. The late afternoon and evening are always her worst times. Remember the hell hour before dinner when you had toddlers and preschooolers? Well, we have one who seems to not have outgrown it. Very inconvenient when you have dinner to make, three other kids who need your attention, and a husband who has come home from work and instead of spending time with you, he has to spend the early evening doing damage control so we can all have some peace later. Maybe.  Sometimes I think it is her craving for sensory stimulation that hasn't been satisfied, sometimes I think it is teenage histrionics, sometimes I think it's the devil. I'm exaggerating but that's just how it feels.