"A Problem Page For All!"

Who fights in my family? Most recently, it's been Mom and Rachel. But very often it includes Dad, and Mom, and Rachel, and me. Jimmy usually tries to stay out of it; when he does join the fray, I know things have gone really far and it's time to stop. Of course, by that time Rachel's probably throwing dishes (well, that's not fair to say; she stopped breaking dishes after Mom and I got really upset over it), Dad's into his you're-all-abusing-me-and-I'm-going-to-report-you-to-the-authorities mode (I hate that), Mom's crying in a corner, and I'm standing around looking real worried. And Jimmy's shouting in his heartbreakingly newly deep voice, tear streaming down his face, his voice cracking as he speaks.

I hate writing about this. I hate fighting. I already said that. I just want peace, relative peace. I think we're on our way there. But oh dear heaven it takes patience, and sometimes I think I haven't got any left.