Sure

As a parent, there are many times throughout the day that I find myself saying "no" to things.  Sometimes it's to keep my children safe.  Sometimes it's to keep my children healthy.  But sometimes it's just to avoid a big mess.  Sometimes it's because there is just not enough time.  Sometimes it's because the effort or investment seems too great.  During a quarantine that has now stretched out past 50 days, there is ample time to clean up the messes and put in the effort and try new things. There is much more opportunity to say "sure."  And sometimes the "sure" in a day makes the best quarantine memories.

Can we take a walk in the rain?  Sure.

Can we get out the face paints?

Sure.

Can we eat lunch in our box?  Sure.

Can we ride our bikes through the flooded lower lake paths?

Sure.

And then can we play in the flooded fields?  Sure.

Can we stay up past bedtime to keep playing games or reading books or watching a movie?  Sure.

Can we set up the tent in the backyard?

And have s'mores?

And then sleep in the tent all night?  (Or at least until 4:30 in the morning when everyone woke up cold and wanted to finish sleeping inside.)

Sure.

Can I make meals and bake things and use the oven by myself?  Sure.

Can we take family bike rides around town?  Sure.

And will you get out the bike you haven't ridden in 12 years so you can keep up with us?  Sure.

Can you help us make a life size Chutes and Ladders game in the driveway?  Sure.

Can you learn how to French braid my hair?  Sure.

Can we have ice cream before dinner?  Sure.

Can we find new places to hike and explore new trails and spend hours in the woods?  Sure.

There are plenty of things we are missing during this quarantine.  We are missing school activities and spending time with friends and hugging grandparents and going on trips and visiting the library and playing at playgrounds and eating at restaurants.  But there is now more time for trying new things and making big messes and just being together.  There are more opportunities to say "sure."  And those "sure" moments are helping us make some wonderful quarantine memories.