Certain fun activities such as building puzzles, playing board games, using the Wii, or playing basketball, were among the Dosch kids' favorite things to do. Before my brothers and I got jobs and went to high school, we had plenty of time to do most of these activities with the whole family. Although my parents worked long and hard on the weekdays, our homework load was light and we had more time to spare.
Upon entering high school, our extra-curricular activities and responsibilities increased.
My brothers and I soon had music rehearsals, concerts, soccer practices and lessons. We even had half-time jobs that took over huge sections of our weekend, and the rest of the time would be spent finishing homework.
“What time do you have to work?” my mother would ask my brothers when the weekend approached.
“I have to work 2-7, Friday and Saturday,” my brother would answer. Or my other brother would answer,” 4-8 on Sunday.”
Then a moment in history arrived that no one saw coming. The coronavirus pandemic spreading across the the world also shut down schools, stores, sports, and churches where I live. My parents, being amazing doctors, deal with patients -- both in person and over the phone. I can never hug my mom and dad when they come home due to the risk that they may have been exposed to the virus.
My brother’s job, this summer, is to stock shelves in a local grocery store. In an attempt to protect him and his co-workers, my mother sewed masks for them to wear. My other brother continues to make pizzas at a pizzeria, although no customers are allowed in the building.
Normally, when my parents worked all week, and my brothers on the weekends, it was difficult to arrange times for fun family activities. Now time seems to have slowed down, and everyone is at home much more often.
There are no concerts, soccer practices, or traveling to do. Hours after work on the weekdays are now mostly free and both the whole family can participate in fun activities like before. We play Wii bowling and board games as much as we want, and we have never been able to build so many puzzles.
My mother says, “The activities we used to enjoy when we were kids can be enjoyed much more now. The adults have magically turned back into kids, like on snow days.”
Yes, the coronavirus is a dreadful situation, but we can make the most of it. We can use this time to engage in games and the family togetherness we enjoyed before high school and jobs took over our lives.
~~ Mary Dosch (Class of '24)
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