Amidst the continual busyness of the ICU we often forget the power of taking time to pause with our patients and their families, to understand where we are at, and where we are going. Years in the ICU has taught me that often the most important reality of care is the perception of care by patients and their families. Taking time every shift to walk families through the plan of care and answer questions remains one of the most valuable but often overlooked aspects of critical care.