Whispering unheeded advice to a Bloomington-bound scholar boarding a Greyhound. Masking a stray tear with mascara as your princess parades down the aisle to Mendelssohn and her prince. Waving farewell to your favorite recruit as he stands among the gaggle of GIs clustered in the chill predawn light of an airport runway. AT&T words flying with magic carpet speed as you urge your San Francisco-based son to eat more, spend less, and get to bed on time. You long for a glimpse of your daughter’s baby boy, but know you can’t afford the airfare to Atlanta.

Miles may separate parents from a child, but the umbilical cord of love is rarely torn asunder. One of the tragedies of life occurs when parents and children are separated not merely by school or job responsibilities. Instead, angry words and …