nostrum -- Dad

nos·trum  (nstrm) n. 1. A medicine whose effectiveness is unproved and whose ingredients are usually secret; a quack remedy. 2. A favorite but usually ineffective remedy for problems or evils. [From Latin nostrum (remedium), our (remedy), neuter of noster; see nes-2 in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009.

An allopathic doctor, Dad believes that he did not prescribe nostrums. 

irony -- Mom

i·ro·ny  (r-n, r-) n. pl. i·ro·nies 1. a. The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning. b. An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning. c. A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect. See Synonyms at wit1. 2. a. Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs: "Hyde noted the irony of Ireland's copying the nation she most hated" (Richard Kain). b. An occurrence, result, or circumstance notable for such incongruity. See Usage Note at ironic. 3. Dramatic irony. 4. Socratic irony. [French ironie, from Old French, from Latin rna, from Greek eirneia, feigned ignorance, from eirn,dissembler, probably from eirein, to say; see wer-5 in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

It is ironic that Mom's retired and she's working overtime.

mandala -- Ann

man·da·la  (mnd-l) n. Any of various ritualistic geometric designs symbolic of the universe, used in Hinduism and Buddhism as an aid to meditation. [Sanskrit maalam, circle.] man·dalic (mn-dlk) adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published byHoughton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Mandalas are perfect for Ann as they combine spirituality and math. 

interdigitate -- Todd

interdigitate [ˌɪntəˈdɪdʒɪˌteɪt]

vb

(intr) to interlock like the fingers of clasped hands

[from inter- + Latin digitus (see digit) + -ate¹]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

Perhaps Todd was taught to interdigitate his fingers so that he can't cross them when he prays.

morass -- Sister Jen

mo·rass  (m-rs, mô-) n. 1. An area of low-lying, soggy ground. 2. Something that hinders, engulfs, or overwhelms: a morass of details. [Dutch moeras, from Middle Dutch maras, from Old French mareis, probably of Germanic origin; seemori- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Sister Jen learned to navigate a morass of legalese in law school. 

feckless -- Isabella

feck·less  (fkls) adj. 1. Lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective. 2. Careless and irresponsible. [Scots feck, effect (alteration of effect) + -less.] feckless·ly adv. feckless·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Isabella is no feckless teenager: she is wise beyond her years. 

obfuscate -- Jack

ob·fus·cate  (bf-skt, b-fskt) tr.v. ob·fus·cat·ed, ob·fus·cat·ing, ob·fus·cates 1. To make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand: "A great effort was made . . . to obscure or obfuscate the truth" (Robert Conquest). 2. To render indistinct or dim; darken: The fog obfuscated the shore. [Latin obfuscre, obfusct-, to darken : ob-, over; see ob- + fuscre, to darken (from fuscus, dark).] obfus·cation n. ob·fusca·tory (b-fsk-tôr, -tr, b-) adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published byHoughton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Jack's weariness obfuscated the road.