The following day, I personally drove Ian and Sarah to school and then home. But before we left, a few of the parents begged me to accompany them to the next PTA meeting for the children. I do not usually go to these events; Adams has always been a piece of cake, but with Alvin running away from jail, I needed the distraction.

"Mom, could I go over to Ella's house to play?" Hannah requested permission from me to attend play dates with one of the students at school, Mrs Benita's daughter; she is the definition of annoying and talkative. The mother, rather than the child, makes things difficult. "Sure,"...