Three Things Challenge set daily by Di.

We are presented with three things that may, or may not, be related. Simply read the prompt and see where your creativity takes you.

You can use one, two or all three words in your post, there are no restrictions regarding length, style, or genre apart from keeping it family friendly.

Remember to tag responses with 3TC, #threethingschallenge or #TTC and add the logo if you wish.

***

Words for #883 are: JEER, KETTLE, LEMON

***

The potential for disconnect is real.

Try not seeing your children for two years then coming out the other side with the same familial dynamic.

You can jeer. Children grow away, you say. It is natural.

We all know there are families out there who are more intimately entwined. Whose children visit regularly, no prompting. Who gather around Sunday dinner, no reason. Never miss a birthday, anniversary, Christmas.

Births, deaths.

We already compared ourselves to them, with that sour lemon taste of jealousy.

We struggled to quantify the quality of our familial bond when access was free and easy. By the time normal contact resumes, grown children have developed new norms that don’t include turning on the kettle, because Mum dropped by.

What a drag!

As the parent I can feel that ennui sneaking into my own psyche.

‘Really?’, it asks. ‘You want effort now?’