Dad’s: Downstairs

Here’s what I didn’t understand as a kid: Dad’s downstairs wasn’t just a basement. It was his exhale.

And if you’re lucky, he’ll pat the cushion next to him without looking up. That’s his way of saying: Come sit. Be quiet. You belong here, too.

The Unspoken Kingdom: Why “Dad’s Downstairs” is the Coziest Place on Earth dad’s downstairs

He’s not running away. He’s recharging.

That’s the thing about Dad’s downstairs. It was never really his alone. Here’s what I didn’t understand as a kid:

Now that I’m older, I get it. We all need a downstairs. A chair. A corner. A place where the thermostat is slightly too cold, the snacks are hidden, and nobody expects you to be interesting.

So if you hear the basement door creak open tonight and see the flicker of the old TV light at the bottom of the stairs, don’t feel sad for him. Don’t think he’s hiding from the family. That’s his way of saying: Come sit

It was always an open invitation to just be.