Looking Out

My son, April 2020

One year ago, I snapped the photo above of my son looking out the window. We'd been home a month, at the beginning of a global pandemic.

For a year, we have been looking out. I'm glad the vaccines are rolling out (still waiting for my appointment) and hopeful for a return to normalcy. My son's just finished his first week back at in-person school, which was a big deal.

Yet, we cannot discount the year of "looking out". My daughter, who is nearly two, has lived more than half of her life in quarantine. My son spent a year in zoom pre-K. He had a few playdates in our bubble, but spent almost all of those twelve months stuck inside with Dad and his sister as his only playmates while his Mom struggled to work with a house full of loud, cooped up kids. 

This pandemic has changed us all. It's mark won't vanish when the numbers finally drop for good. When we get to the point where we all feel safe, this year will remain with all of us. This year where friends and family have died, and a world was brought to its knees by a virus. A year where we were trapped, literally. Yet also a year where we hopefully found strength in our families and in our hearts. I personally feel closer than ever to my wife and kids, and am grateful for them. There is no one I'd rather "look out" with. 

​How has the pandemic affected you?