Turn of Phrase

My mom and I were talking about how it is hard to reach my brother (in China). He doesn't seem to be on Skype nearly as much as he used to. His in-laws were spending a lot of time with them helping to take care of his two young daughters, but they have now left to help his sister-in-law with her own new baby. That leaves my brother and his wife in a situation they have never been in before: the throes of early familyhood. Nice turn of phrase.