When My Child Mentioned “Aunt Phoebe,” Everything Fell Apart

so I brought him along. And he started calling her Aunt Phoebe. Kids do that.”

That stopped him, because he realized what he’d admitted—not that they were working late together, but that the visits were frequent enough for a six-year-old to assign a family title.

I took one step closer.

“He told me about her apartment,” I said quietly. “Her dog. The snacks continue reading …