One had Halloween costumes and recital outfits. One had toys I was sure would trigger instant nostalgia. I laid everything out on folding tables in the basement one Saturday afternoon and invited everyone over between 1 and 4 p.m. with iced tea and brownies, because if we’re doing emotional labor, we might as well have snacks.
The reactions were all over the place. The baby blankets mattered. The handwritten birthday cards mattered. A particular stuffed dog with one missing eye absolutely mattered. But the bins of spelling tests, participation
