One thing I learned from my mom: there is no situation that cannot be made better by stewing a chicken and making soup. John used to joke that within 15 minutes in our house she would be boiling poultry, like maybe she carried a spare chicken in her purse at all times. I have inherited this inclination. I think I am most at peace when I have a pot of soup cooking up on the stove. So tonight: sick kid chicken noodle soup. I do a lot wrong as a parent but this is one thing I get right.