Wow. You know, there were times when i did exactly that, just quick little calls or emails or texts, just checking to see if he was there. And i got a FEEEELING from your post here that like finally closed the circuit on WHY or how that was so important.

1, its a clean, direct ask, stripped of any frills. So you can be SURE the question was heard, and you can be sure they are answering the right question.

2. Then its like, okay, all systems go, prepare for liftoff. You can see how if a parent hedged on their answer, it could get a kid stuck in ocd and uncertainty.