Baby, Baby, Baby

Apart from all the things this COVID-19 pandemic has changed in our lives, one of the things that will be really nice to get back is to hang out with the many many children my friends and family have in my life. Though I’ve never been one to want kids of my own (this was pretty clear to me really early on, and despite everyone saying, ‘you’ll change your mind one day’ — so far I haven’t, and I don’t think I will), I’ve always been pretty good around them (for tiny tiny quantities of time) as any auntie would be.

So it’s good that I still get to hang out with some of the kids based in Singapore — Penelope and Giselle and Ranveer and Kiara. But I do miss my godkids, Stellan and his brother Leon, whom I have yet to meet in Norway; Teo and Lucia (and her new brother, Lazaro whom I also haven’t seen). Or my nephew Taylor and his sister Emma (also a toddler now that I have yet to meet). Or even kids like Maya and Elias in Berlin, and Max in Boston who I only know of and see photos of.

I guess this is how grandparents feel (to an even crazier degree). Cause though I’ve zoomed or talked to them on video chat, it’s still different to give these kids a hug and annoy them, cause they can only take me (and vice versa) for so long. I wonder when I’ll be able to visit any of them again and how old they’ll all be. Will they still remember me?

I also can’t imagine how it is to be a parent in this time, working from home (for most) and having a child there with you. I can barely concentrate by myself and having to care for a child at the same time sounds like a crazy stress and challenge I can’t fathom (and don’t want to).

So once this is all said and done, I’m excited to become auntie again (in person) — available for play dates 10 minutes at a time. And hopefully I get to cuddle and hug them before they all turn 18.