Figuring out how to be

The novelty staying of home has worn off, and we are all trying to figure out how to be in this new normal. Maren in particular has had a bit of a tough time this week. I think she is realizing that this might go on for a long time and is feeling sad about not being able to go to preschool or daycare. She has been testing every limit there it is to test, and then for a couple of days this week had really low energy and just wanted to hide under a blanket much of the time. Eventually she said she was feeling sad, and maybe also lonely.

Our next-door neighbours also have a four-year-old, and he was in Maren’s preschool class. They have a six-month-old baby as well. We often see them when we are outside or on walks. The other day this four-year-old neighbour was essentially chasing us on his tricycle trying to catch up with us while his mom was telling him to stay back. It felt strange, and kind of wrong in some way.

So we talked to our neighbours. We decided that our children could play together. We are staying in except for groceries once a week, and so are they. They have no contact with anyone else, and neither do we. The benefits of the four-year-olds being able to play together seems in our minds to outweigh the risks. I feel like we are doing something wrong, like we are breaking the law even though we are not. I feel like I need to confess that we have done this. But after two days of allowing them to play together I am sure we are making the right decision.