My daughter-in-law laughed as she gave me a $2 scratch-off for my 73rd birthday. Ten months later, my own son shoved a senior living brochure in front of me and said, “We already picked your room.” They thought I was too old to fight back. They had no idea what I had been hiding.

It took even more courage to accept that I could love my family without letting them manage every decision I made.

Colin and Jessica are still learning.

So am I.

There are disagreements, school performances I miss because I have plans, lunches that run late, and occasional remarks we all wish we could take back.

But now we can stop, apologize, and choose differently.

My house is not enormous.

Its kitchen fits only a small table, and the garden needs more watering than I’d expected.

I know where every switch is.