My daughter turned one almost 4 weeks ago. I cannot believe, like many parents at a similar juncture, that a year has passed already. And what a year. Born in November 2019, who knew what was around the corner? Sure, we guessed sleepless nights, nappies, tears as well as smiles and laughter. COVID-19 was not on the agenda. Thank you for that curveball, world, when you pitched it at us in early 2020.
COVID has had many implications for us as parents of our baby girl. We’d barely got the hang of the parenting rhythm when all of a sudden the support network of the wider family was banned from visiting due to lockdown in Sydney in March 2020.
We were figuratively and literally on our own.
At the same time, my consulting work evaporated – corporates are quick to turn off the consulting tap when they need quick wins in cost control. This presented us with a financial conundrum which was addressed in part by my wife going back to work, sooner than planned, from maternity leave.
Possibly the most saddening moment, for me personally, was that the Australian borders were closed; as yet, my parents have not met their newest granddaughter.
Swimming classes for our daughter – something we feel is so critical for our daughter living in the beach lifestyle city of Sydney – were put off until October – we had hoped she would be a true water baby – instead she’s a water toddler.
Similarly, music classes and gym classes were postponed; we, as parents, were petrified of our daughter getting the virus, even though Australia’s efforts at containment have been mightily successful (if hard won, as in Victoria). This delayed her meeting new little people, something we weren’t happy about, but considered too great a risk as she delicately edged towards six months of age.
And yet; I reflect as we near the end of 2020, an annus horribilus if ever there was one in many respects, that in a strange way there was a silver lining.
My wife worked from home; as did I, though my relative lack of consulting work has meant I have more ‘free‘ time on my hands. We got to spend so much quality time with our daughter in her first year – something many parents complain they miss out on. Seeing her grow, do new things and try new things, start moving, now non-stop moving; observe her curiosity – something so joyful to watch, whether it is playing with a new toy, more likely the wrapping or box the toy came in, or learning to feed herself as she moved onto more solid food – being present, being with her and around her all the time; what a privilege that has been. And in a way, 2020, then, has been a great year.