Curled on the couch in my daughter Kristil's Parisian apartment, the sound of a key turning jolted me awake. Relief at hearing Kristil's return home turned to anxiety as I recognized the voice of a friend whom I disapproved of. The immediate aftermath was a strained silence between Kristil and me, a palpable divide that marked a turning point in our relationship. When my daughter went to college, it was hard to let goKristil and I had always been close. The confrontation with Kristil and her friend in Paris felt like the culmination of years of harbored concerns and miscommunication.

---

Persons: Kristil's, sipping lattes, Kristil Organizations: Left Bank, Ivy League, Columbia University —, Columbia Locations: Wisconsin, Kristil, Paris