Child neglect and adrenaline

There was another silence followed by screams today. Linnea put her finger in the VCR and pressed play. Then when she tried to take her hand out the flap came down and she couldn't. I got there quite fast, I think - it took about 8 or 9 years to cross the dining room, but no more - and pushed the flap in until it snapped off and her finger came out.

She had skinned both sides of the finger, around the knuckle, and torn the cuticle around the nail. She cried fora bit; I fed her, and sucked the finger, and she's forgotten that there was anything wrong at all.

I'm going to find a nice, old-fashioned GP, who will say "Ah, you're a mother, are you? Very common condition - I prescribe valium. Here, take two. Take five!"

I need a mother's little helper, sometimes.