We are going to watch his every move. We are going to take his passport. We’re going to limit his access to money.

He’s very idealistic, very politically minded and a very motivated kid. It started as a research idea, but it became almost a dream for him.

He has a lot of confidence, but I never thought he would be able to pull this together.

He thinks girls require too much time, and he has more important things to do. He loves history.

I do feel some relief that he’s out of Baghdad. I can’t help being anxious until I see him.

I’m extremely excited and anxious. I don’t know who will be more anxious, me or him.

He’s happy to be home. It’s not the time to explain anything. The whole thing is very abnormal.

He’s going to lose his autonomy for a while, and his passport for sure.

I was so anxious. Words cannot even express it.

He thinks he can be an ambassador for democracy around the world. It’s admirable, but also agony for a parent.

I am very anxious. I want to see him come home safe.

He is very idealistic. He has many convictions. He is very pro-democracy, very compassionate, always helping out others, he’s very driven. Those are more characteristics of Farris than adventurous. This is the first adventure he’s...

A lot of things he’s used to, he’s not going to have for a long time.

He wanted to see how the people [feel] about democracy and the war in Iraq. When he heard my negative response, he decided to take things in his own hands, I guess.

I’m exhausted. We’re all exhausted. We want this to be over with.

When he first gets off the plane, I’m going to hug him. Then I’m going to collapse for a few hours, and then we’re going to sit down for a long discussion about the consequences.