Back home after a year abroad: 'It's good to be back'

Greta, 19, has returned home after spending a year in Bolivia, marking an emotional reunion for her father, Tillmann Prüfer. Prüfer, who writes weekly about his four daughters, described the moment his child, whom he hadn't seen for a full year, rushed into his arms at the airport.

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It's good to be here

He recounted how the family greeted Greta with a banner that read, "Our Gretchen is finally back." Prüfer admitted that he used to find such public displays of welcome embarrassing but now sees them as expressions of pure happiness. "Where a welcome banner is held high, there is happiness," he stated.

The embrace was overwhelming, but it was his daughter's simple words that resonated most deeply. "When a child says, 'It's good to be here,' they say everything a parent wants to hear," Prüfer shared. This sentiment signifies connection and belonging, a confirmation that home and family are present and cherished.

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Where a welcome banner is held high, there is happiness.

This experience highlights the profound impact of a child's journey and growth. As children travel and gather experiences, they expand their horizons. For parents, this can sometimes mean their own world feels smaller in comparison to the vast experiences their children gain. Yet, the return home signifies a successful journey, bringing the child back to the familiar embrace of family and home.

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When a child says, 'It's good to be here,' they say everything a parent wants to hear.