falloween with kids...and COVID

How to accurately describe parenting through a pandemic? I’d ask other parents in my circles, but we’re all tapped TF out. My kids are little, which presents its own challenges, but one silver lining is that they’re not entirely aware of everything that’s changed or been lost over the past year and a half. My youngest was born a few weeks before our area locked down in early spring 2020, so she doesn’t know all that she’s missed out on. My now four-year-old? Not so much. She’s acutely aware of missing swimming lessons, playing with cousins, and climbing around playgrounds with friends yet to be made. It’s been rough. We have vulnerable people in our family, so we’ve been on the extreme end of cautious. We almost lost a very dear friend in the first weeks of the pandemic. It snapped us into shape real quick, and how close it was shook me and hasn't left me. 

But being so careful has meant sacrificing a lot, and it’s taken a toll. We’re going a little bonkers, feeling cooped up, and we miss interacting with others. (I’m not even sure I still know how to interact with other adults.) I see lots of families venturing out, doing things that worry me too much to do with my kids. I was a worrier before becoming a mom, and the arrival of my first kiddo amped up the anxiety big time. Now as a single parent, it’s all on me, and the fear of making a mistake can be overwhelming. But I feel guilty that my kids are missing out on different experiences. I worry that their development will be stunted or something. A “lost year” is quickly turning into two, and it represents my youngest’s entire life. I’m not sure she even realizes that there are many other babies out there. We just had no idea what this was going to turn into when it started.  

Much of that first year is blurry, but when I started to reclaim some sense of control, or the ability to revive certain traditions and “the things we used to do,” it was that first Fall. Falloween is my favorite season and lasts from September 1st until Thanksgiving, roughly. It could be 90 degrees here and humid as hell, but I'm baking some damn pumpkin bread or stirring a giant pot of butternut squash soup. This season goes so quickly, sometimes you have to will it into your day or house. 

Last year there was so much we didn't know, so there was so much we didn't do. Like trick or treating in the usual way. We did a Easter egg type hunt in the backyard with little pumpkins filled with toys and treats. My parents and I posted up behind different doors, and my kids trick or treated up and down the hallway of my house. COVID greatly influenced which events we participate in, and how we participate. We had to get creative if we were going to enjoy some version of our traditions. 

Now that we’ve got an entire year and some change under our belts, and the grownups are vaccinated (Hallelujah!), we can weave in more activities that we’re comfortable with. With kids too young yet to be eligible for COVID vaccination, we’re still prioritizing safety. 

Safe(r) fall activities 

Keeping in mind the CDC’s emphasis on vaccination, masks, distancing, outdoor activities over indoor ones, and small groups instead of crowds, and advice on high, medium and low risk activities from sources like The Mayo Clinic, we’ll keep it small, outdoors, and local. 

There is no shortage of great lists out there with every Fall activity you can imagine. This one from Real Simple lists 62 of the best Fall activities. 62! From hayrides and apple picking, to bonfires and drive-in movies, there are plenty of safe(r) options to consider. 

You’ve got picnics and parks, farmers markets, pumpkin patches, hiking, camping, outdoor theater and concerts to enjoy outside. And there’s a ton of fally goodness that happens inside: small gatherings, or cooking with the kids, carving pumpkins, or creating something special with fallen leaves and other treasures from the yard. Nothing beats getting outside while the weather is cooperating. Some fresh air and running around, taking a moment to appreciate this transitional season— a pause between the bright, hectic summer, and the muted, stiller winter.

To kick off our celebrating this season, my parents, my littles, and I ventured out to an apple orchard. It was perfect: mild and sunny weather at a beautiful outdoor location. A bit busier than I expected, we were still able to keep plenty of space between us and others, even when the kids were running around. It was an adventure for them— a new experience and a new place to explore, and, hopefully, a new tradition for us. Oh, added bonus: like many orchards, this place also offers summertime berry picking, and, you guessed it: pumpkin patches later on. So we already know one place can return in a few weeks for the ultimate Falloween souvenir.