Pandemic Motherhood Diary, Entry 22: Blippi and Meekah’s Fun!

After months of contemplating and requests from our three-year-old, we finally caved and took him to a trampoline indoor park. He had grown tired of witnessing Blippi and Meekah’s fun on television and wanted to experience it for himself. We went to a nearby location in the evening with next to no one in attendance. This lessened our worry about COVID just a little bit so it was perfect. Two little boys joined us while my son and I jumped and tossed a ball back and forth. They introduced themselves and were kind to my son. I even managed a conversation with their mom, who shared that she sprayed disinfectant on many of the toys the kids were playing with. Now this is a mother I wouldn’t mind scheduling a play-date with, I thought to myself. The only problem was I left without exchanging contact information.  

This was a rare moment for my sons and me. Unfortunately, I feel like I failed them. I watched my sons share a space with two Black boys who played respectfully with them without hesitation or reservation. It is what every mother would want to happen in public play spaces. The mother being COVID-conscious was just a bonus. She even conversed with my sons as well. These were all signs that I needed to establish a potential play-date for our kids. This has to be how it works, right? My husband asked me as soon as we got to the car, “Did you exchange contact information with her?” I let out a disappointed sigh, followed by a no because we clearly thought the same thing.

Since having kids, one of the challenges that I have been trying to mentally decode is how to bond with other mothers. It is especially important for me to bond with moms with children that are the same age or near my children’s age. Obviously, since the wrecking ball that is COVID showed up, meeting new people and play-dates have been out of the question. The opportunities have been limited to nonexistent. Who was I going to meet while attempting to shield my children and myself from the world? Now that both of my sons are running around and communicating enough to play with others, how can I accommodate them? How do I step up without fear and fulfill that need?

Beyond the interruption of the pandemic, I have never enjoyed small talk. I prefer to skip that altogether. The idea of standing on the sidelines at a playground with other parents while trying to conjure up something interesting to say terrifies me. The fact that the Jane Doe mom saw fit to address the elephant in the room, which was germs and the virus, really struck a chord with me. After that, conversing segued into talks about our kids and how to better safeguard them during these times. In retrospect, maybe had I not skipped the small talk, I might have at least gotten a name. 

Since then, I have been wondering how to cautiously lower my guard a bit so that I don’t fumble another opportunity to better communicate with a parent. I don’t always have the most welcoming demeanor. My trust is very minimal, and the pandemic has only contributed to it in the worst way. Trying to figure out how to navigate and build necessary mommy associates is going to take some getting used to. With our children going out more and actually socializing with others, my window to prepare is closed. I have no choice now but to sink, swim, or at least grab a floaty.

In the meantime, I’ll be working on my small talk. 

Melissa Menny is an author with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. She is a poet and a writer in all aspects. When she is not working, she enjoys painting, music, and spending time with her husband and two sons.

This is the most recent in a series of essays about raising young children in the COVID era. Read entry 21 here.