The correct answer is D. irritable.
The word “fractious” means “easily annoyed or irritated.” When children display fractious reactions over trifles, it can be very frustrating for parents. This is because parents often want to see their children happy and content, and it can be difficult to understand why a child would get so upset over something small. As a result, parents may feel like they are not doing a good job, and this can make them feel irritable.
The other options are not correct because they do not accurately describe the feeling of being irritable. Option A, pleasing, is not correct because it does not capture the negative emotion of being irritated. Option B, absurd, is not correct because it does not capture the seriousness of the situation. Option C, comic, is not correct because it does not capture the frustration that parents feel.
In conclusion, the correct answer is D. irritable.