Voices swirl around the conference table like snow. A gaggle of younger, middle-aged office coworkers strain to make interesting conversation under unforgiving fluorescent lights. Given the gathering, this common subject, which pierces no heart but mine, was inevitable. 

“I can’t be with my kids for five hours, I’m sorry”
“I sit in the car for a good twenty minutes before I go in!”
“Yesterday was Colten’s first day of school and he would not stop going on about it.”
“Mine don’t start until next week, and I’ve been counting the days!”
“I miss when they were younger, now they never stop talking.”
“My favorite game is the silent...