The first call came at 8:15 AM. It was Lisa, her voice already pitched an octave higher than usual.
“Mom? Where are you? The kids are awake and I can’t find the permission slips for the field trip. Are you at the store?”
I didn’t answer. I let it go to voicemail. I could almost hear the frantic sound of cupboards opening and closing in the background of her confusion. The “safety net” had been pulled back, and the freefall had begun.
