PenPenWrites

Paterfamilias and I were exchanging smiles of contentment. "It feels so nice," PF says to me, "just to have her in the house again."

Alpha daughter has come home for a week–to attend a two-day conference and do some research. Her first day home is devoted to recovering from jet lag–she's been living in Germany for the year– and preparing her presentation for a conference panel. PF and I work on our own projects, but there is time for a quick lunch together, an afternoon cup of tea, and dinner. What a treat. Without her family in tow, we are able to enjoy the one-on-one fullness of her presence. Our conversations take a different direction than when husband and child are present. Not necessarily better–but more familial and more direct. No doubt about it, it is a treat to have our daughter to ourselves, even if it's only a few days.

A few hours will do it as well. Last Spring, Uber son was in town unexpectedly–another panel at another conference (thanks be for panels)–and we were able to squeeze in dinner together before his flight home. There we were, talking about family, who was doing what and conversing one-on-one–no interruptions from anyone but the waiter.

These moments of togetherness are not exactly a step back in time–our children are grown up with families, careers and big-time responsibilities, and that's some of what we talk about. We love our grandchildren and our children's spouses. But these visits are a fleeting and precious moment in time when we don't have to share our children with anyone.