I explained that his dad and his brothers and sisters would take care of him, but it didn’t help. “Why would you want to leave this country without me?!?”
Poor Frank. He obviously missed the point. It’s not that you want to be without HIM, but that he needs to be without YOU! He may not understand it immediately, but if it is presented to him, he will be well-adjusted by the time you come back.
Especially if OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS reinforce the idea that it is something that is good for HIM!
And I will now sit down and shut up. I think I have input enough “charisma” into the Tax-chick household today to last for the next 16 months, give or take a few...