A couple of weeks ago my family was relaxing at home, as we have been every day since March. I was working, my children were playing, and my husband was working on a new project.
As I was working I received a couple of text messages. I looked and discovered both messages were from two different mom friends asking if our children could have a play date. I stared at my phone for a moment, unsure how to respond. I’d like to say yes, but is that safe? Is that the responsible thing to do? Aren’t we all still supposed to be staying home as much as possible to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus?
Just then I heard my kids yelling. Their playing had turned into fighting yet again. A result of spending too much time with each other.
I thought about how both of my kids have said they missed their friends, and the numerous times they’ve asked me when they’ll be able to see them again. I recalled how my oldest had just the day before mentioned he missed school. Something he’d NEVER say under normal circumstances.
And in that moment, I knew what I needed to do. So I picked up my phone and typed in the same response to both texts.
Yes.
Yes, we can have a play date.
And as soon as I told my kids about their play dates, and I saw how their eyes lit up with excitement, I knew I had made the right choice.
Many of you might not agree with me. Perhaps you think I’m being irresponsible for taking my kids to a friend’s house to play, and potentially exposing them to the virus (or us exposing someone else). Maybe you think I’m a bad parent for letting my children be around others right now.
Well, you’re entitled to your opinion, and I won’t judge you for that. But in the end, I have to make the decisions I feel are best for my family.
The reality is, just like each of you, we’ve been stuck at home since March. No one has ventured out except for me to pick up groceries. My kids are at the point where they more easily argue than play well together because they haven’t had a break from each other in three months. Any kind of screen time limits have gone out the window. My children are getting more easily bored with their toys, games, and puzzles because they’ve played them all over and over. They are constantly asking me when things will be open again and when they can go to their friends houses.
In short, they are over it. And so am I.
And that’s why I said yes to a play date.
We need a break. We need to get out of the house for more than groceries or a bike ride or a walk around the block. All of us need the social interaction and to see our friends again. Myself included.
So I said we would have play dates again, and my kids could not be more excited. When I told them they’d be going to their friends’ houses to play, they squealed in delight. Seeing their joy filled this mama’s heart to overflowing.
The way I figure it, this virus could be around for a long time yet. Probably until there is a viable vaccine that we can all get. So, this is our reality now. I can’t keep my kids chained to our house anymore or we will all go crazy.
I know we still need to be responsible about things. So I’ll only let my children have a play date with one friend at a time, as to minimize risk. And we will wait a couple of weeks in between play dates.
But, we will be having them. I’m done telling my children “no.” I’m ready to say “yes.”
