My oldest child, Clara, went off to college. “Don’t fall apart when she leaves,” was my mantra this summer: “She’ll be back at Thanksgiving.” On the day, I managed to hold it together. But underneath I was roiling.
Being a parent requires some acting skill. Kids can be both silly and dangerous. You often give stern lectures when you feel like laughing. Teenagers get emotional about predictably dumb stuff. You have to project sympathy even as you roll your eyes.
