In our household, the recurring question is, “When will everything be back to how it used to be?” With three daughters aged 20, 18, and 15, they look to me for some semblance of reassurance that the end of this prolonged quarantine is on the horizon and that their lives will resume. They want to know when they can leave home, reconnect with friends, and return to their respective colleges and high schools. The stark reality is that I simply don’t have the answers. I’m as uncertain as they are.
The atmosphere in our home is charged with emotion and impatience. After weeks of confinement, the five of us experience varying degrees of togetherness. There are days filled with joy, like when I find my daughters—almost grown—cooking together and sharing laughter. I often wonder if this might be the last time they all share a space like this.
Then, there are days that are far more challenging. Heartbreak and frustration surface as a prom dress and graduation gown hang unused in the closet. A coveted summer internship has been canceled. Most distressing of all, we learned that a friend’s father succumbed to the coronavirus. Anxiety escalates with every news headline and image of patients waiting outside hospitals. My daughters grapple with concerns about our family’s health.
The question of when life will return to normal is complicated. The information out there is often contradictory—some sources suggest that restrictions will ease and life will settle down by summer, while others warn of universities canceling fall classes and rising death tolls. I wish I could provide them with the certainty they seek, but the future remains a puzzle. What will “normal” even look like? Will I hesitate before embracing a friend? Will face masks become a staple at the gym? Will I allow my kids to attend concerts? I don’t want to live in fear, yet I feel the weight of responsibility to keep my family safe.
The only other time I felt this vulnerable was post-9/11. I vividly recall sitting on my living room floor, eight months pregnant, as I watched the second plane hit the World Trade Center. For years afterward, life was divided into “before” and “after” that tragic day. It’s as if I lost the carefree sense of security I once had. Over time, some of that fear subsided, and life continued, but I was forever changed.
What I can promise my daughters is that life will exist beyond the coronavirus. Gradually, normalcy will return, and eventually, treatments or vaccines will be available. They will reclaim their lives.
There will always be a “before” and “after” in my mind regarding this pandemic—a moment when I learned how little control I have over life. I won’t forget waiting in long lines for disinfecting wipes and toilet paper when the shelves were bare. The first time I can visit my parents after months apart will be a moment of profound gratitude. My daughters will feel immense joy in returning to college and sitting beside their classmates again.
Like them, I yearn for the familiarity of life before COVID-19, but this experience has irrevocably altered all of us. Perhaps the end result will be a fresh perspective, an appreciation for things we previously took for granted. And who knows? That might not be such a bad outcome after all.
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Summary
This article illustrates the emotional turmoil faced by a mother and her teenage daughters as they navigate the uncertainty of life during the pandemic. The author reflects on the contrasts between good and bad days, the weight of unanswered questions, and the hope for a return to normalcy. Ultimately, it emphasizes the importance of perspective and gratitude in the face of adversity.
Keyphrase
When will life return to normal after COVID-19
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