Venturing Out

So...a few nights ago, we had this lovely post-dinner swim time, the sun was diminishing in the loveliest way, and all was pretty harmonious for my crew.

So harmonious, in fact, that as my Chicklet was drying off and getting ready for a bedtime shower, she told me that she was feeling “all the things.”

And as I prodded her to explain, she told me she was feeling the earth and the pool, and the water, and the wind, and oh my heavens, I LOVE this child.

She continued to list all the things within her line of sight that she loved and could “feel” and then she progressed to the cosmos, ha.

I should note, here, that her kindergarten class studied the planets and even had this related video they would use to calm down after high-energy activities. It involved breathing steadily in conjunction with a spaceship countdown, and then continuing meditative breathing as the video passed certain space objects (I know this because I had the joy and hilarity of joining in one time during a Zoom call).

So my girl continued to list all the things she loved and could “feel” and spoke of the “angry planet” (Mars, because it’s red and she thinks red is an angry color), and the “blue planet” (Earth, that she says is sad, because she thinks blue is kind of a sad color—even though it can sometimes be happy because it’s her favorite).

I mean...by the time she was wrapping up her meditative stream of consciousness, she had both of her siblings sitting criss-cross with her on the floor of the shower, breathing iiiiiiiiin, and breathing oooooout.

I mean...I die.

It was the best.

And apparently, she was on a roll and wanted to continue Deep Thoughts By Chicklet as I was putting her to bed half an hour later.

She launched into a heartfelt conversation about all the things that are different now in the world, and how she wants it all to go back to normal.

(Ironically, though she wants to see friends and be able to go shopping for toys in stores and to eat out, she’s not chomping at the bit to return to school, ha.)

It was a very poignant discussion, and even heartbreaking at times—like when she asked why God couldn’t just take the germs away. But the point is that her message was definitely received.

After more than three months of staying very close to home, I think my kiddos have finally, finally reached the point where they actually care to get out. Perhaps because we broke the seal and went, as a family, to Target last weekend, and they got a small taste of all that they didn’t at all appear to be missing for so long.

Now, I’ll admit to being a bit conflicted over the best way to re-emerge from this quarantined life. Particularly with children so young, who can’t be counted on to observe the best sanitary protocols to help protect themselves. And in a state where infection and hospitalization rates are currently increasing. 

But I know that we’re doing our best to slowly and surely hit minor (that seem major) milestones, and we checked a box on our list last night, when we went for our first family meal out since the first week of March.

It was the safest and most enjoyable way that I could think of to give my babies a little bit of worldly exposure, and they were pumped. 

From running around excitedly, really deliberating their outfit and accessories choices before we left, to their giddy collective vibe in the car, I just knew we’d made the right decision.

But it was also hilarious to see how out of practice we were with the whole routine.

I mean, Chicklet even fell asleep in the car on the way to the restaurant—a move she hasn’t really made since her toddler years—because she was so unaccustomed to being in the car at that time of day.

But the excitement ramped back up as soon as we were inside an actual restaurant, seated at a sanitized, socially-distanced table, with a gloved and masked server to take our order and bring us food we did not have to cook. I mean...JOY.





Thankfully, there were only a handful of peeps in the restaurant, because my kiddos have apparently completely forgotten how to use their indoor voices in public spaces, ha. But it really was a joy and an adventure all wrapped in one.

And we totally treated it that way.

We ordered special dessert, we let the kiddos have a sleepover in our room last night, after our big evening out, and we really just made it an event to celebrate.

It seems like there will be no end to the small and large “new normals” we have to get used to—and every individual and household and community and state will have to continue at their own pace. 

But I’m grateful for every small step we take. And for our continued health.

And for old practices that seem like new and fun treats, in this changed world of ours.

Happy weekend, peeps.

Over and out.