This has been a gift and a challenge. I’ve spent so much more time with my littles. They have grown so much. Our family unit has strengthened tremendously. Their bond has tightened. It has been amazing to see.
The toddler has become so talkative and bright and grown into his little personality. He’s learning sight words, using the potty, building with blocks, learning some Mandarin, and so much more. He’s super loving—not really something I expected. And I think the pandemic has affected him the least, likely because he’s the youngest, and has so little to compare to, and he has his big brother, who he adores.
The third grader—boy have we gone through some things. He’s fluent for his age in Mandarin, learning division, starting to have big boy feelings. And he has definitely let it be known a few times that he is sick of COVID—because he would have been able to meet his summer friends in person if it weren’t for COVID, he would have been able to spend holidays with his family if it weren’t for COVID—oh, he gets it. He wanted to go to school in person, but then realized he could catch COVID even with a mask, and decided that maybe he didn’t want to go. He’s struggling a little to pay attention with remote learning, and we’re struggling with how to help him meet his full potential.
Mostly, I worry about what my kids are missing—with the younger, I think about all the things the older was doing—swimming lessons, taekwondo, and the older is not getting to continue these lessons currently—well taekwondo, but virtually, and it’s really not nearly as stimulating that way.
I think about everything they are missing. I pray that we are doing the right things for them daily. I’m praying as they begin to assimilate a little more—or don’t.
There’s no way to know if you’re doing the right thing for your kids. My husband looks at me because I’m the doctor. But really, I know the medicine, but I’m just as clueless about what the right thing to do for my kids is. I’m human. This parenting thing is hard. I’m just praying.
Good thing God made them resilient. Good thing God’s in control more than I am.