April 2020. Childhood hits different in the middle of a pandemic. To say this is such a strange and surreal time is understating it all, but we are trying to adjust to the new “normal” as best we can. That means we’ve curtailed our Sunday tradition of going over to Grammy BevSue’s and you’re not able to hang out with your friends, or go to school, or leave the house without a mask on. Hard to explain to your 2 year old self why we can’t go to the playground or park but I am trying. This month we sheltered in place all month long (like the rest of the world) and you have been such a good sport. I’ve been working from home all month and while I SO appreciate the time I get to spend with you, working from home with a bored 2 year old has been “character building”. Luckily for me (and you!) Grammy Connie is still willing and able to come over a couple of days a week to hang out with you so it breaks it up a bit. When you ask me if she is coming and I say “yes” you always say “Oh I’m so excited!”. It’s very sweet. We also have settled into the routine of going to “school” via zoom meetings 3 days a week. It’s only around 30 minutes, but at least you get to see your classmates faces and your teachers. While you may wiggle and get distracted (because you are TWO) you seem to enjoy it and even said “I had so much fun learning my letters today!” after one class. It’s not a substitute for the socialization we were aiming for when we signed you up for school, but the world is shifting in light of the new reality and I’m so grateful that you have some small outlet to see other littles your age if only on screen for a bit. In terms of what we’ve done this month well… we’ve been home. Exploring alllll around home. We dyed Easter eggs for the first time, and hid them around the house. You enjoyed it, but mostly liked to peel the shells off the eggs. I was looking at your Easter pictures over the past 2 years and realized we would miss this year so I set up an “Easter bunny” photoshoot for you right here, and photoshopped you into a scene. I even put a mask on the stuffed bunny you were holding so we will always remember the current state of affairs. We go for walks in the neighborhood (masks included), make chalk art on the patio and I set up an outdoor art studio for you a few days a week too. I’ve been breaking ALLLLL the rules I had in my mind of how I would parent. Now I’m all “Here, watch TV, hold this ipad and do the thing, eat this cookie, here’s a popsicle whatever, just PLEASE be quiet for mommy’s meeting.” Sigh. We’re trying. All of us are trying. I truly hope that this is but a blip and fades in the horizon nice and easy and that the sun dawns on a new day soon but for now, we are hunkered in and sheltering right here. Happy Spring 2020 baby girl and here is to hoping that it gets better from here.