I CAME HOME FROM A WORK TRIP, AND MY 7-YEAR-OLD SON SAID, “DON’T GO INTO MY ROOM” — NATURALLY, I LOOKED

like much time.

They would be over before I knew it.

At least, that was what I kept telling myself while packing on Monday morning.

But four days was long enough to miss reading bedtime stories to my son.

Long enough to miss his nightly request for one more glass of water after I tucked him in.

Long enough to feel guilty whenever he asked, “When are you continue reading …