You Know Your Kids Are Grown, Part VII (Pandemic Edition)

It’s been over a year since I posted on this topic. In this time of the pandemic, I can’t visit my two adult children who live on opposite coasts, nor can they come visit me. In fact, they canceled a trip they had scheduled to Kansas City when the stay at home orders went into effect around the nation.

But the pandemic has revealed new signs that they are definitely grown.

You know your kids are grown when . . .

1. They order you to stay home and shelter in place. It used to be I ordered them to stay home. (Note that my children have not yet added the “OR YOU’LL DIE!” threat that some of my friends’ children have given them.)

2. Both children are working from home, and see it as just more of what they’ve done regularly throughout their careers. They have the technology in place to make it happen, if not seamlessly, at least productively.

3. One child manages to get a car repaired quickly and with a minimum of angst. A feat this child could never manage before the pandemic.

foccaccia — My child’s focaccia looked something like this.

4. The other child bakes focaccia that looks prettier than what you see in most bakeries. I wish I had captured the screenshot.

5. During a conference call, each child (and each of their adult cousins) contributes decidedly adult opinions, while still showing the impact of their unique education and experience. We had an author/editor (not me), an architect (and parent of four), a web content design expert, and an environmental attorney—think what diversity that added to the call!

6. Both children undertake new activities with their significant others. And you are glad they have significant others, so they are not alone while sheltering in place.

7. Both children live in COVID-19 hot spots, but you don’t worry about them particularly, because they are sensible human beings who will follow the government guidelines and orders.

8. Both children make it a point to call more regularly than before the pandemic. And they both called on my birthday!

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

How are your family members doing through this crisis?