Dear Tobin,

The day you’ve been wishing for has finally arrived: you’re back in school in-person. You’ve seemed very happy with it so far. You seem to like your new teacher and are getting along well with your classmates. You were disappointed when you found out that your best friend and some of your other closer buddies are in the other section, but in your characteristic Tobin fashion, you’ve forged and strengthened other friendships. You have been quite tired after school each day. Attending in-person is a bigger load in terms of energy expenditure. I haven’t heard you complain at all about academics, so I assume that’s going fine. You’ve started ELP in person, and one cool thing about how they’re doing that this year is that you’re in a mixed-grade group that includes older kids. I was in mixed-grade ELP when I was a fourth-grader too, and I remember it being so fun and cool to hear the perspectives of older kids. You’re certain accustomed to holding your own with your older sibling, so I’m sure you have no problem meshing with that group.

I’ve been picking you up for lunch every day, and you’ve been a good sport about it. I’m sure you’d rather be eating with your friends, but with the high transmission rate and skyrocketing cases of Covid in our community, I’m more comfortable with your unmasked time being at home. You also enjoy a hot lunch, and I’m happy to make it for you. You’re always in a hurry to get back and join your friends at recess. I think active recess time is something you missed a lot during your online school days, so I’m glad you’re back to that. One thing that bothers me about your classroom is that your teacher keeps offering snacks and treats as rewards for good behavior. So far you’ve been very gracious about waiting until you get home to have them, but I hate that you’re put in a socially awkward position like that. I wish she would choose rewards that don’t involve kids removing their masks. I really appreciate your strength of character. You’ve always been a leader, and maybe some of your friends follow your example and take their candy home as well.

You’re taking a break from taekwondo at the moment, but you will start basket later this week. Again, I’m going to count on you to keep your mask on all the time. Your normal water bottle doesn’t have a straw attachment, so I’m glad for you to borrow mine and just stick the straw under your mask for a moment to hydrate. I know so many people with Covid right now, and even though I don’t know anyone whose case is technically worse than “mild,” that can still be pretty debilitating. “Mild” just means you don’t require hospitalization, but quite a few people I know are knocked out for a week or more. Kids seem to fare better than adults, but I would still strongly prefer everyone in our family to remain uninfected.

We’ve been planning and dreaming our Spring Break trip. The last time we went to the Keys was right in the beginning of the pandemic, and we did basically nothing except hang out in our condo, alternating between the pool and the beach. You even came down with an ear infection, so it was really not the ideal trip. I’m hoping this time will be more fun. While there are a lot more Covid cases floating around now than there were then, I also feel less afraid now. We have tools: KN95 and KF94 masks, vaccinations and boosters, and knowledge about which activities are riskier than others. We may eat at restaurants that offer outdoor dining—fortunately, those are plentiful in the balmy Keys. We’re also hoping to finally enjoy a visit to the Dolphin Research Center and spend some time interacting with dolphins. We had planned to do that last time, but that obviously didn’t work out, so I hope we can now. It will be great to get a head start on outdoor fun in a climate that’s more hospitable. I did buy trip insurance that includes coverage for cancellation due to Covid, so if one or more of us gets sick, we can reschedule. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but it increases the odds that we’ll take the trip one way or another.

Family vacations are important to me, and I really cherish the time we have together on those trips. I’ve noticed you’ve been less of a morning person than usual lately. You’ve been extra crabby in the mornings when your dad or I wakes you up for school. You do have to get up earlier in order to arrive at school on time than you did for online school, when your commute was the distance between the kitchen and your office downstairs. Still, I hope you can muster up the energy to join me for our customary morning beach walks. Those are special memories for me, and even though you’ll be ten-and-half next month, I hope you’re still game.

Along with your return to school, you’ve been returning to playdates with friends. Our family rule is that all indoor interaction is masked, and you’ve done great with that. You played at a friend’s house last weekend and fell in love with the Oculus Quest Virtual Reality headset. You and your siblings have been lobbying hard to get one for our house. Between you and Artemis, you have enough savings to buy it, and you’ve decided Callum can buy the games. I think it’s fine—I’d rather you saved your money and got something really cool than getting a bunch of junky little things. Your dad seems less convinced, so we’ll have to wait and see how it works out. You’ve been building a solid case, including researching educational games. You say you’re working on a persuasive speech to deliver to your dad. I am looking forward to hearing it.

Your current favorites: watching Psych with your dad, cinnamon toast, Oreos, playing in-person with your friends, playing soccer at recess and tag in P.E., books by Stuart Gibbs, not sitting still at the dinner table, family movie nights (we recently watched Encanto again), and jumping up to hit the top of any door frame through which you pass. You hurt your foot doing your usual wild antics, and I’ve been telling you to take it easy so you’re fully healed for basketball. You always say you will, and yet, I hear a lot of tell-tale thumps as you bound through the house. You’re a high-energy fellow, Tobin, always making everything a little spicier.

We’re all adjusting to this new way of life. I miss having you around, but I also know that you’re learning and growing in ways that you need to be outside the house to accomplish. It’s a stretch for you too; you’ve been more tired and grumpy than usual, but not always. I am so grateful that you’re willing to compromise between total freedom and total caution. You’re adventurous, but you’re smart, and that makes me feel better about sharing you with the outside world.

The world is lucky to have you, and I’m lucky that you come home to me, at lunch and otherwise.

Love,

Mom