The Heartbreaking Moment You Realize Your Parents are Just As Lost as You Are

Dear Delyara, I went to see my father this afternoon to ask his advice on a difficult situation, expecting the firm, unshakeable guidance he used to give when I was a child. Instead, as we sat in his kitchen, I saw his hands tremble as he poured the tea. He looked at me, his eyes clouded with uncertainty, and he admitted he didn't know what to do either. It was the most terrifying moment of my adult life. The myth of the omnipotent parent crumbled right there on the table. He isn't a mountain; he is just an old, tired man who is also wandering through the dark, guessing his way forward just like I am. The safety net is entirely gone.