COVID-19 with young children – the seemingly endless spring break

Joyful screams filtered in through the window screen as I toweled off our 4-year-old’s messy mop of blond hair. The neighbor’s kids were playing before bedtime, just one last game of tag in the driveway, and Ashley looked up at me with hope. His wide, hazel eyes sparkled in the afternoon light peeking through the crack in the door. He looked over my shoulder.

“We can play when spring break is over,” he said, “spring break will be over soon.” My heart sank.

Since the middle of March we’ve promised so many thing when spring break is over. The aquarium will re-open, the library will be ready with even more books than it had before. Stacks of books, higher than the ceiling, all about trucks, waiting just for you. Auntie Barb and Kate will come over again to slide down the hill in our yard on a foam surfboard. Dad will lay out a picnic blanket and you’ll eat handfuls of juicy strawberries while barely dressed, I’ll spray Luna with the hose. You’ll go back to preschool and show your teachers how many letters you’ve learned to write. Half the alphabet, no problem. Before school holidays began, you were just learning the letter A.

But for now, it’s spring break. Spring break will be over soon, we just don’t know when.

It’s been difficult explaining our drastic change in routine to Ash. No more trips to the grocery store, or the beach, no more woohoo on the surfboard with Daddy while Luna squeals with joy watching her brother come to shore. Before spring break started, I was wondering how we’d cope with our heavy workload with Ash home for a week. That was a month ago, and we have no more work. He sits on his table next to our office desk, coloring on his whiteboard which used to be our calendar while I file for unemployment.

I’m curious to hear from other parents, what you’ve told your young children to explain their change in routine and what to expect. Sometimes the minutes drag by like hours, I know. You’re not alone, and I dare say you’re doing your best.

I’m beginning to wrap up the editing on the session we photographed before COVID-19, and this beautiful family shoot is one of them. Thank you Sarah for choosing us to photograph your family’s portraits on Maui – these photos sure take us back to a happy place.

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