Goodbye 2021!

When life gives you lemons, you squeeze them in lukewarm water and gulp the whole glass in one go. This sourest dose of vitamin C is your security against the deadly Coronavirus. The next day, standing in the middle of the vegetable market, you pray that life gives you lots and lots of lemons, if not free then at least cheap. That is the year 2021 for you, not as scary as 2020 yet not as normal as always.

Yet, have you seen the year 2021 from the eyes of a toddler? For them, there is no benchmark to compare the normalcy. They have breathed through a mask since they have known what a nose means. They have used a sanitizer every time they use their hands since they have known what a hand means. They can identify people by looking at their eyes and listening to their voices behind a mask. They have not adjusted to this lifestyle, rather they have lived only in this style.

I am sure there was a day in every household when half of the family was sick and the other half was scared of the disease, money, and future. Adults in the house didn’t smile let alone laugh. Yet there was this one child in every house that enjoyed the little things like the sound of a sneezing or a snoring adult. They made sure that everyone in the family forgets their worries for a few minutes and enjoys life.

The older children had a tougher time though. They liked playing online games but having a conversation virtually was never their thing. They liked talking face to face where they could use their whole bodies and not just the tongue. ‘I am bored’ was always on the tip of their tongues. ‘Screen time’ was always on the back of parents’ minds. It became normal by the time 2021 arrived. 8-9-year-olds were preparing presentations and coding little games. It was not all play and no work. But it was all fun with the kids when the screen was involved. 

2020 was definitely the most difficult year. But there was a closeness between the family that people had never experienced before. It, however, lost its charm when the routines of the different generations clashed. 2021 was more organized and hopeful. It was also the year when people were expecting an end that didn’t fully arrive. Kudos to the little angels. They made 2021 livable after being on house arrest for the whole of 2020. 

2022 might still not seem as promising because of the new guest ‘Omicron’. But let us not lose our minds. Just remember, ‘this too shall pass.’ Till then, enjoy the achievements and catch the infectious happiness of your kids. Do not however forget your daily dose of lemon water.