On the way home from Melissa’s last night, I asked Reid if she wanted to call Ken at his museum. She said “yes” immediately and then bugged me for the phone the whole time I was dialing. When Ken answered, I checked to be sure he had time to talk - sometimes he’s busy with museum visitors and other trivialities, can you imagine?! Reid took the phone, put up the antenna because she has to do that every time, and said, in a sweet voice, “Hi Daddy. I miss you.” They talked a bit and when the call was over, Reid started to cry a bit that she didn’t want Ken to go the museum. Nevermind that we weren’t home yet or that he would have been home alone for the three hours that we were at Melissa’s.

Ken continues to be the go-to parent for food-cutting, book-reading, and many other things. Absence makes the heart grow fonder even when you’re 3.