The Moms Mocked Me for Picking Up My Daughter Every Day—They Had No Idea I Gave Up a $180K Career for Her 14105.

"No," Nate said. "I'm not in a hurry."

Josie pointed to the watch she'd drawn, enormous on his wrist. "Then maybe stop looking at it."

He sat beside her and helped color the kitchen table without once glancing at his phone. After fifteen minutes, he caught himself wondering whether Ms. Bell had confirmed volunteers. He left the thought alone.

Later, he and Leah talked in the garage while he stacked empty boxes for recycling. It was the only room where Josie couldn't hear a normal voice over the washing machine.

"I thought quitting meant I'd stop missing her," Nate said. "Turns out you can be home and still miss what's happening."

"That's not all you've done."

"I know. But it's what I'm doing now."

Leah passed him a flattened box. "I was relieved when you left the job. I never told you how relieved, because I thought you'd hear that as me wanting you to earn less forever."

"And now?"

"Now I want us both to be allowed to change our minds without being punished for it."

He leaned against the shelf. "I don't know if I want to go back."

"Then we don't decide tonight."

The next day, Josie and Maeve argued over a library book at recess. It wasn't a dramatic fight. Maeve wanted the book because she'd placed it on hold; Josie thought they had agreed to share. But when Maeve said, "My mom says your dad thinks he owns reading night," Josie shoved the book into Maeve's hands and walked away crying.

Ms. Bell called both families. Nate listened while the teacher described the disagreement and reminded everyone not to load adult conflict onto children.

"I'll talk to Josie," Nate said. "And I'd like to apologize to Maeve if she'll let me."

The teacher sounded relieved. "Start by giving them space."

That evening Josie said Maeve had been her friend since first grade and now every conversation turned into which parent was right.

"I didn't mean for that," Nate said.

"I know. But you and her mom keep doing it."

Nate opened the volunteer schedule and crossed his name off two assignments. Then he emailed Meredith and Ms. Bell with a request: someone else needed to coordinate gym setup so he could be seated for Josie's poem.

Meredith's answer arrived before Ms. Bell's.