2020: A Year in Review

Another year down, and what a wild ride it was. But instead of getting into all of that, here’s a snapshot of all the things the Robertsons did last year.

What We’ve Learned:

Flash: How to use step stools in the kitchen to steal donuts, cookies, and sweets off the counter. 

Wonder Woman: How to get out of boring church services being noisy during the sermon.

Batman: Counting to 100, letter sounds, and how to be a virtual Kindergartener. 

Superman: How to log into Zoom with an awesome Avengers background, and maybe learn some stuff in the process.

Mom: How to facilitate e-learning without losing my mind– AKA lowered expectations.

Dad: How to work from home when home is chaos and family members don’t understand the words, “I’m working.” 

What We’ve Loved:

Flash: Playing like one of the big boys— climbing on the top bunk, wrestling, fighting, and making older brothers cry by being too rough.

Wonder Woman: Getting a shampoo and style at the hair salon, because that lady is way better at it than Mom. 

Batman: More time with Dad at home than ever before. 

Superman: Wearing pajamas to virtual school and snacks available all day.

Mom: Having excuses not to leave the house or change out of my pajamas.

Dad: Baking bread (once yeast was finally back in stock.) 

What We’ve Accepted:

Flash: Naptime and bedtime happen every day despite repeated protests. 

Wonder Woman: Having a little brother steal your stuff is the plight of big sisters everywhere. 

Batman: Parents insist on healthy dinners even though they taste like trash, and junk food is preferred. 

Superman: Getting in trouble means video games get cut off. 

Mom: Some moms spent the pandemic crafting, baking, or playing board games with their kids. That was not me, and that’s okay. 

Dad: Sourdough starters do not survive in this house. It’s obviously personal.

What We’ve Missed:

Flash: Nothing. Life is good, and happiness abounds.

Wonder Woman: Getting to see friends in preschool and a certain boy in particular. 

Batman: Friends. It’s tough for an extroverted kid to have a mother insistent on social distancing and limited social interactions. 

Superman: Getting a break from family by going to school. 

Mom: The trips we were supposed to take, and getting together with friends without wondering if it’s too risky. 

Dad: Disney World, movies, theaters, friends’ birthday parties, and indoor restaurant dining– all the things. 

What We’ve Accomplished:

Flash: Speaking in complete sentences and yelling loudly to get my way. 

Wonder Woman: An entire year without a hospital stay, surgery, or even an ER visit!

Batman: Adjusting to Kindergarten Zoom even though it would be 100x better in person. 

Superman: Losing four teeth and growing most of them back. 

Mom: Making a delicious butternut squash soup from scratch. 

Dad: Building a 20×19 deck with the help of YouTube. 

Mysteries that Remain Unsolved:

Flash: Same as last year… What is this word “no,” and why do people say it to me? Don’t they know that doesn’t apply to me?

Wonder Woman: Why is brushing teeth a thing? It is not enjoyable. 

Batman: Why is eating dinner a stipulation to having dessert?

Superman: Why haven’t my parents realized that I am an intelligent seven-year-old, and that obviously, I know everything?

Mom: How have my kids grown up so fast? Where did all my babies go?

Dad: Why didn’t the sourdough starters work?

What We’re Hoping for the New Year:

Flash: For people to listen to me and give me what I want. 

Wonder Woman: To see friends again and continue this healthy streak.

Batman: To ride the bus to school in person. 

Superman: For bedtime to be extended. 

Mom: For the healthy birth of our fifth child this summer. And for in-person school to start again, please and thank you. 

Dad: To win the lottery. Will settle for a healthy year full of love, laughter, and as much time with family, as possible, but maybe not while trying to work from home.

Happy New Year! <3 Us

(The Christmas card I may or may not get around to sending)