“He kept hugging me extra long.”

“He’ll miss you,” I said, choosing my words carefully.

“Parents always miss their children when they’re apart, even when they know they’re having wonderful experiences.”

“Do you think he and Mom will be okay in the smaller house?” she asked, catching me off guard.

“Mom keeps saying it’s cozy, but I heard her telling her friend it’s half the size of our old one.”

Children absorb so much more than we give them credit for.