In short, we need to build routines of collecting our children into our daily lives. In addition to that, it is especially important to reconnect with them after any sort of emotional separation. The sense of connection may be broken, say, after a fight or argument, whether by distancing, misunderstanding, or anger. The context for parenting is lost until we move to restore what psychologist Gershon Kaufman has called “the interpersonal bridge.” And rebuilding that bridge is always our responsibility. We can’t expect children to do it—they are not mature enough to understand the need for it.
