| This weekend, my boys went to camp. As in sleepaway camp, away. As in not in the house for the first time in almost two years. I got my hugs and kisses goodbye after their negative Covid tests. We heard the instructions on cohorts, masks and distancing, and how camp this summer would be different than before. My older son hugged his phone goodbye and handed it to me. My younger kiddo, a nervous newbie to this sleepaway thing, disappeared with his ultra-cool-sports-fanatic-college-guy counselor, skipping and smiling, ready. Their tents were waiting, the fresh air ("It always smells so good here," the older one whispered) and quiet surrounded us. It was magical. It was a moment we had been hoping and waiting for since the pandemic began. As the poet Maggie Smith writes in today's essay, "I am hopeful that they'll enjoy many of the things we took for granted before, but I also wonder what are we taking for granted now." This has occurred to me a lot lately, as we were building up to our first time away from one another since the pandemic began. How much time have we spent rushing to get to whatever is next? Wishing our minutes away? So when camp came this summer, it was like a breath. Like meditating, and everything takes on a pristine focus. The little one's freckles were starker. The older one's pensiveness, deeper. Focusing on the beautiful moments, stopping to be still, and taking in what is happening right now is so important. Because the cliche is true: It all goes by so fast.
Don't forget to join Meghan Leahy tomorrow at 11 to talk all things parenting. You can ask your questions now. By Dave Sheinin, Bonnie Berkowitz and Rick Maese ● Read more » | | | |
Parenting in a Pandemic These are challenging times for any parent to navigate. Let On Parenting help. Below you'll find a selection of expert advice and personal stories for all types of parents. To keep up with The Post's best advice for living through a lockdown, including recipes to make, shows to watch, the best socializing apps, resources for parents, guidance for managing anxiety and tips for canceled trips, bookmark Your Life at Home. And the latest on school reopenings can be found on The Post's Education page. For vaccinated parents with unvaccinated kids | Vaccinated adults may have more freedom. But for kids, 'the rules haven't changed.' For parents dealing with virtual school | Strategies to improve distance learning | Tips for creating a good learning environment at home | How parents can avoid anxiety around distance learning For parents dealing with in-person school | How to help children adjust to masks, according to experts and parents | As kids move from quarantine to school, separation anxiety may follow. Here's how to help. For parents working from home | 6 strategies for parents struggling with work-from-home interruptions For parents looking ahead to post-pandemic life | The pandemic changed everything about family
life. These are the parts parents want to keep. |
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