I can’t say that the pandemic has been the best. After all, lots of people have lost their lives and their jobs. Since I am one that has been furloughed I know that it hasn’t all been roses. Still, there are some upsides to COVID-19.

Since being furloughed I’ve been able to breathe. Without the pressure of work AND managing kids I’ve been able to focus on just one thing, my kids. It’s been nice to not feel like I’m failing at just about everything. While I’m also looking forward to getting back to work, I’ve made sure to take advantage of the unexpected time I’ve had with my kids. It’s been really fantastic to slow down and spend time together without the pull of the latest work email.

I was able to venture out to the zoo last week and never once checked my phone to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I have to say that a huge upside to COVID-19 is that there was a limited number of people at the zoo. It was glorious! There were almost no lines at the cafe, there was plenty of space to get close to the barriers of the animals. I didn’t feel like we had to push to the front to see the animals. I didn’t have to tell my kids to wait their turn 5,000 times during the day. The limited capacity, in what is usually such a crowded place, was a welcome change.

My husband and I felt the same way as we walked through Busch Gardens last weekend. In a place that is usually so bustling with people we were able to walk right onto whatever ride we wanted. Of course, there is a “buzz of excitement” that was missing, but we managed to get in and out of the park in about 2 hours and never waited more than 10 minutes for a roller coaster.

If there are two things that can remain as a result of the pandemic, I would hope that we continue to be thoughtful about the value of family time with our kids, and that we appreciate experiences with smaller more intimate crowds as opposed to large gatherings.

While I know that my husband will miss the concerts with 30,000 people rocking out, I hope it can show us that these smaller gatherings have a strong importance too and should not be taken for granted.

I know that spending time with my kids won’t last forever and that when I land a new position they will be heading back to daycare. Having them close to me these last seven months has brought us closer and I will miss them when they return… whenever that will be.