17 Months.

 

Gentle Neighbors, 

My kids last went to full time school 17 months ago this Tuesday. We've piecemealed care from friends, neighbors, babysitters, older siblings, grandparents and other relatives over Zoom, harried daycare workers risking death and disability to stay open, TV watched on school-issued computers, letting them climb on us and destroy the house while we work, bringing them to work, etc. At one point I briefly left the cat in charge while I visited a very depressed friend. He's an impressive cat. 

I (like many parents) have responded by feeling angry, exhausted, proud, guilty, ill, hopeless, grateful, depressed, manic, faint, endlessly stressed, and just about every other feeling. 17 months of pandemic parenting seems a lifetime, and my rapidly graying beard shows it. Many parents and caregivers around here have had it far worse. I have a loving reliable co-parent, have the funds to pay for care when I need it, work in a place where I and my kids can be outdoors, have reliable vehicles, have supportive neighbors and friends, speak English, have fast internet, didn't catch COVID, and have healthy kids. I have trouble imagining how the many parents lacking any of these blessings have made it through these last 17 months. 

So what I want with all of this is to thank, and congratulate, and commiserate with, and hopefully to comfort the parents and caregivers who have made it this far. If you've made it through this in one piece, or even two or three, and have not attempted to murder anyone, you are an impressive and resilient human being. You deserve plaudits, and a raise, and less expensive housing, and a place where you can send your kids for several hours five days a week for free where dedicated professionals with advanced training and accreditation will teach them and feed them and provide them with a social life. 

Schools will be open in six days, twenty hours and (for my kids' school anyway) two minutes. You have overcome an extraordinary trial, challenge, stress. Whatever comes after this, you are stronger than it. Nice work. 

Gratefully, 

Dr. Dan Levitis