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How is the pandemic affecting any children in your life? Give an example or two of some specific ways you've seen this happen.

I"m not sure if 21 counts as a child, probably not, but the 21-year old I'm writing about is my son, so he will always be "my child!" All week I've been so conscious of how much gratitude I have for the little gift that the pandemic has brought me--an extra five months with my son. He is at the age when kids are generally moving out of the house or off to college, but he decided to take a semester off and stay home for a job, internship and two remote classes. Usually when he's at school, we text or talk on occasion, but he's pretty private and it's hard to get details from him about his life, classes, etc. because he's so busy. Then when he's home, he's out a lot seeing his friends. But now that he's living at home, we talk every day. He fills his dad and me in on his job, his internship, what he's working on in class. Because we have time together, I think he feels more comfortable telling me things. I'm delighted that I get to be his mom again, and that we have this time together to learn how to have an adult relationship, rather than just on his school breaks. I am even getting to watch my son mature close up, at home, in a way that would not have been probable under most other circumstances. He chose to stay home, so he is not resentful toward us, in any way. He knows that he is really lucky he has a part time job AND a great internship and he is grateful for this. He's interested in learning life skills that he didn't quite pick up before he left for school (e.g. Cooking, Barbecuing, sewing, fabric dying) and I am having fun teaching him! He's actually cleaning up after himself and doing most of his own cooking and shopping. I think he appreciates that he has two parents who love and support him and are making/keeping a home for him where he can be safe. So, to answer the question: the pandemic has forced him to grow up a little faster than he would have otherwise, and he has taken on this challenge magnificently by being proactive and going forward with his life. He has made exquisite lemonade out of lemons, and I am so proud of him