A line has been drawn...
I have stopped and started this post several times over the past few days trying to find some “lighter” more fun things to share... but the truth is that is not what is on my heart at the moment.
What is on my heart is my fear of just how much my son is missing out on as we continue living in our “bubble”... I could write post after post after post about why we continue to follow the CDC guidelines as best as we can... but I’ll refrain for now. At the end of the day it’s a personal choice... and one we made as much for ourselves as for the people who don’t have a choice at all and are scared sh*tless every time they HAVE to leave their house. But I digress...
This weekend we participated in a drive by birthday parade. Something that - up until this weekend - my son pretty much assumed was the only option for pandemic birthdays. Well... when we returned from said parade we saw a neighborhood birthday party in progress down the street. It was a birthday party reminiscent of pre-Covid days. With a bounce house in the front yard of our neighbors house and all the neighborhood kids laughing and living their best life.
My son didn’t notice at first but when he did he paused... and stared... the look on his face and the tears welling in his eyes broke my heart. Honestly. I don’t think I have experienced anything comparable as a parent... but it felt like what I imagine it would feel like if he came home from school saying he had been bullied. And I wanted to take all his hurt away. But this is different. Because I feel like I’m more prepared for those “mean kid” convos. But what kind of convo is this? No one likes a bully. I think most would agree on that. But what is this? How do I explain this? I am so exhausted and tired of navigating the tricky convos, and feeling like our decision to social distance needs a disclaimer. I’m tired of BSing my son. I’m tired of feeling like a line has been drawn in the sand for one reason or another... so... I’m curious to hear how you all are navigating convos with kids when they just want to be kids? When they want to play with everyone like they used to? Am I the only one struggling with this??