For his Fall 2023 semester, Alex took advantage of a study-abroad program and spent the term in the Netherlands. Aside from him letting us know he successfully arrived at his destination, Leiden, we didn’t hear a whole lot from him for the first month. Then he sent an email saying that he had a problem—the university asked him if he would move out of his single room into a shared room so a new student starting the semester late could have his single.

We arranged a time for a call in the next few days and, once gathered, talked through the problem. Marty and I didn’t have much to offer as Alex had worked through all of the angles and options to an impressive degree. So we had to do little more than to confirm his thinking.

Then Marty said she just had two questions for him and would then let him go. She asked her questions, which took just a few moments, and said she was sated and he could get back to his life. But then Aleo said that it had been a little while since we talked and that he thought we might visit for a bit. We spent the next hour hearing about his adventures and catching him up on life at home. Then, as things were winding down, Anfer got home, and the two boys talked for another hour.

Marty and I took Alex’s month-long silence as him enjoying being away, and we wanted to respect his independence. I will confess having him ask for a longer visit did warm all three of us back at home, who were missing our smiling Aleo more than just a little. We made those check-ins a monthly ritual, one that I believe we all collectively looked forward to.