Dear Callum,

Just to make a weird year a tiny bit weirder, you had an abrupt change in school a couple of weeks ago. Many of your classmates (or rather, their parents) chose to switch to the hybrid learning model our school district offers, which means partially in-person. You and your brothers elected to stay with the all-online model, as Iowa is currently 28th in the world—not the U.S., but the world—in COVID deaths. Forbes magazine ranked Iowa as the third most dangerous state in the U.S. in terms of COVID risk. I understand that not all parents have the kinds of jobs that offer the flexibility of schedule your dad and I have, and I can see how it would be exhausting to work a full-time job and try to coach a kindergartner through all-online school. It’s tiring for me, and I only work a few paid hours most weeks. To me, though, it’s worth it.

Anyway, because there weren’t enough online kindergartners left in your cohort to support a full-time teacher, they moved you to another class. Fortunately you’re still with one of your good friends, Griffin, and Ms. Dee came along with your group too. You’re still getting the feel for your new teacher. She runs things a little differently than your old teacher, and that’s good in some ways and difficult in others. I’m sure you’ll adjust and do just fine. Honestly, you don’t seem to care much one way or the other. You were shy the first day, but after that you started participating more, and I think it will be okay. We just need to get used to the new schedule and the slightly different requirements and expectations.  I can see every day how much you’re learning, and you’ve started reading over my shoulder during bedtime stories. There are parts of some of your longer and more boring books that I consistently skip, and I know you’re going to catch me in the act one of these nights.

I’m late getting this posted, and if I were to describe today’s weather, it would look a lot different from the pictures here. We had a long fall with some nice warm days, and it was fun to spend time outside with you. Now that our home construction project is 98% done, it’s safe and easy to play in the yard. Even better, we now have fully-functional stairs that lead from the back yard into the mud room, so no more walking around the house to come in the front door.

You’re very interested in building things. You wanted to make a tent in the back yard, which we constructed out of tomato cages and an old sheet. You really, really wanted to leave it up, but with snow in the forecast, it seemed like a bad idea. You perked up when you saw some old, dead, dried-up flowers, which you gathered into a bouquet for our dinner table. Anything with scissors is an activity you want to do, and you spent a long time trimming those little mummies. We kept them on the table in a vase for a day or two, except I think you’re allergic to them, because you were getting itchy eyes. Your dad transitioned them into an out-of-view location, where they’ll sit for a while until we’re fairly sure you’ve forgotten about them.

Along with scissors, your other favorite tool for construction projects is gaffer’s tape. Tobin suggested getting you a bunch of rolls for Christmas, and that’s actually a really good idea. I priced them out, and I can’t believe the way I’ve been letting you use that stuff willy-nilly. You will be getting one (1) roll for Christmas, and I certainly hope you can make it last. You like cutting up cardboard boxes, taping and gluing the cardboard pieces into new shapes, and playing with your inventions. You and your dad made a cardboard sword and sheath, and you’ve been waving it around a lot.

You also like setting up elaborate games. That’s exactly the kind of thing your brothers (especially Miles) liked to do, and it’s fun to watch you try to emulate them. Today you invited me downstairs to try to avoid a trap. I managed to avoid it so successfully that you had to point it out to me. It was a slap bracelet in the open position, and when I stepped on it, it snapped closed on my foot. You laughed and laughed as I jumped around in mock horror.

Your current favorites: Wild Kratts; Ryan on YouTube; waffles “How I always like them with lemonade how I always like it”; the Nintendo Switch; watching YouTubers play Switch games; dancing; your stuffed animal collection; and Leslie Patricelli’s books No, No, Yes, Yes and Yummy, Yucky, which are both probably below your comprehension level, but they have a lot of words you can read, so you feel proud about that. The other night when I was marveling at your reading skills, you got exasperated and said, “Why do you always say that?” I guess you’ve gotten so good at it that you no longer requires praise.

You’re so excited for Christmas, thrilled to open a little door on your Alvin (Advent) Calendar every day, and were a proud helper as we decorated our Christmas tree, Captain. Everything is more fun with you around, and I love your crooked little smile. You’re even excited to get a COVID vaccine. You’re no great fan of shots, but we’ve talked about how after we and lots of other people get it, we’ll be able to do fun things again like go to the library, go to restaurants, and even go to school. Unlike your brothers, who are really looking forward to doing school the traditional way again, I think you’d be happy staying here with me for the next few years. As tempting as that is, I know the future holds great things for you, and joining your peers as you experience them will be valuable.

I love you, my sweet pup.

Love,

Mom