We’ve had an eventful weekend here in Healdsburg, dominated mostly by the emergence of L’s molars—and the subsequent havoc that new teeth can wreak.

The poor thing is in agony. Her nose is running, pretty much non-stop. She’s got serious ear pain. And on top of all of that, our prize eater has been almost completely disinterested in food (even her favorite combination of peas and macaroni).

We knew it was bad when she looked at Powergirl and said, “Ow” as she pointed to her ear (though, yes, the fact that she was able to communicate discomfort is, in and of itself, amazing).

I can’t imagine what it must feel like for her (or any other kid, for that matter) to sit there and deal as new teeth come through. I know what tooth problems feel like for me now, and all of my teeth broke through the surface of my gums years ago. To think L is experiencing all of this with no context at all—it truly boggles the mind.

Of course the teething ordeal stinks for us parents, too. Sure, when it’s done the kid will have more teeth. But the crying and crankiness and stuffed-up breathing—if there were a way for me to soak it all up so L could feel normal, I’d do it in an instant.

For now, all we can do is wait until the teeth poke through, and try to make L as comfortable as possible in the interim.

Tonight, that meant lots of books (she loves reading), lots of nose-beeps (for some reason she really likes those too) and lots of back rubs. Tomorrow, it might mean something different. We roll with the punches in this house. For her sake, and for mine, I just hope the teething subsides soon.