A counselor, maybe?”

“I’ve been thinking the same thing.”

We made an appointment with a local family counselor, Dr.

Elena Morris, who worked with children adjusting to major family changes.

Lauren chose her after speaking with the office about its approach, and I agreed to cover the sessions.

The counselor explained that Mason’s feelings should guide the pace.

She also made it clear that being truthful did not require giving him every painful detail about the divorce.

In our first meeting without Mason, Lauren and I sat in chairs arranged at an angle rather than across a table.