Thank you to everyone for your comments, and everyone who's patterns and houses I've used the Bay. Yes, Laurel will return at the end of this round.
Now to family #5!
The last time we saw the Darer-Coddle family, Juan had just passed on. Molly is now left as a single mum to two young children. She quickly finds herself overworked. Fortunately, Juan left a small inheritance, that Molly used to hire a maid and a babysitter. She also took a week off work. Even then, Molly only had time for quick naps as she struggled to teach her son and daughter all they needed to know.
Baby Ming soon aged up to a toddler - see her outfits below.
Now there's two toddlers in the house. Both of them love playing with the toys their father left them. Sometimes they even spot him in the garden late at night watching over them. Molly teaches Jay to walk, talk, and use the potty just in time for his birthday. The babysitter, Sophie Tang, joins in the celebration
It turns out that Jay takes after his dad - Juan can be seen in his face quite easily.
Jay gains the rebellious trait despite his mother's effort to give him all the care he needs. He is just able to remember his father, and doesn't understand why he's not around anymore. This leads to some acting out on his part. Not towards his mother, he loves her too much, but anyone else is fair game. Well, except for his little sister Ming. He'd never admit it, but he's close to the little toddler.
With Jay old enough for school, Molly finally gets a moment to herself. She also visits her husband's grave for the first time since the funeral, and finds herself still quite emotional.
Molly's birthday gift to Jay is a treehouse. He names it 'The Terrible Haunted House', and takes to holing himself away in it whenever he needs his space - an outcome Molly didn't foresee. He even sleeps there some nights, when Ming's crying keeps him up.
Meanwhile, it's time for Molly to age up to an adult. She gets herself a new hair do, and new clothes, though still in her homeland's style.
She also develops a mid-life crisis. She tries to tell herself that she has no time for worrying over her life, but still she is anxious about all her new wrinkles, and her life so far. She wants to get back to her job, but must wait until Ming is old enough to join her brother at school.
Jay doesn't mind school. He's meeting new friends, like Rameses Hosni, and enjoys an excursion to the Police Station - he hangs his medal souvenir on his wall. Molly teaches Ming how to talk - looks like she's already a clean-minded sim like her mum - and helps her take her first steps. Jay finds the easel in their rarely-used study and discovers a love of painting. He also boobytraps the toilet for the maid.
On Sunday Jay invites Rameses Hosni over to play. They bounce on the trampoline, and fight pirates in the tree house. Jay lures the maid outside so he can dump water on her. And that night little Ming ages up.
She chooses a very neat hairstyle, and cute clothes in purple and pink.
The two children deck their room out in their favourite colours with their favourite toys and decorations. The clash in tastes shows. Jay can't wait to get his own room someday, though that has yet to enter Molly's plans.
Molly finally returns to work, and gets a promotion to Trauma Surgeon. She also finds time to fulfill a mid-life crisis wish by getting a makeover at the Salon - new earrings. Another wish is fulfilled when she gains a cooking skill level. And to fulfill her last wish, Molly takes another short trip to Shang Simla. She does some shopping mostly, and learns to sing 'Ping and his checkers' and 'the Love of Xing Lo'. She wants to teach her children about their heritage.
EDIT: I forgot to add that Juan's lobster Dingbat followed him into the after life.
...next will be the Sargeants.
