dizgirl, we posted at the same time! Thanks for validating my feelings about Torey Hayden. I know what you mean. Her books are compelling but make me yearn for that connection with my own T. I told her that she's closest to Torey I've ever had, but that's still far from the way Torey was. Of course we're not kids and can't really be picked up and cuddled by our T. Most Ts are NOT like Torey. Nor are teachers. That's probably a good thing. I think it takes a special kind of personality to do what Torey did with those kids.