Chapter 60: Seasons of Growth

Two and a half years after James was born, Grace saw that their family had found rhythms that felt both safe and full of room for development, especially since both kids had grown into self-assured, kind adults whose traits complemented each other in ways that made their ties to one another better. While Phoebe was in her last semester of preschool and James was playing independently in increasingly complex ways that showed his developing linguistic skills and imaginative creativity, she was working from home.

As an interpreter for James' construction project, Phoebe reported, "Mama, James is building a house for his animals," adding, "James wants the animals to have rooms."

James, who had only started putting words together in brief sentences, had created complex, imaginative settings, and had thoughtfully placed blocks while offering commentary in his growing vocabulary and using expressive gestures to convey his architectural vision.

James affirmed, "House for animals," displaying