I admit to crying just a little when your childhood home sold this month. (Charity doesn’t read this, right? We promised never to tell her when it was gone.) And I get a bit weepy when I look at your magnificent children and wonder why you aren’t still their age. But your dad and I are having the honeymoon season we always planned for – and I wouldn’t trade that for another ten years of having you all around our supper table. Five maybe, but not ten. Here’s to the next season…

I knew then that learning to read was just the first step in a long line of steps toward the day when he doesn’t need me at all.

But what wonderful people they are going to be!