Issue link: https://fredparent.uberflip.com/i/1226469
6 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • April 2020 PUBLISHER Leigh Anne Van Doren Tabitha & Jamie Nelle's mom EDITOR Chris Jones Quincy, Hayden & Olive's dad MEDIA & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Megan Walsh: Mia, Noelle, and Adelaide's mom DESIGN & PRODUCTION Cheryl Carter, President, Carter Creations Alex, Kate & Jackie's mom WEBMASTER Karen Charney: Joshua & Spencer's mom, and Abby's mother-in-law SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING MANAGER Lovedy Carroll: Meredith's mom CALENDAR & COOL THINGS TO DO ELETTER Leigha Pecher: Jake and Luke's mom EDUCATION AND INFANT ELETTERS Debra Caffrey: Aidan's mom parent fredericksburg & family Entrepreneur of the Year PROUD FOUNDING MEMBER ADVERTISING PHONE 540-429-3572 EMAIL leighanne@fredericksburgparent.net CALENDAR & SOCIAL MEDIA E-MAIL webmaster@fredericksburgparent.net EDITORIAL PHONE 540-429-3572 E-MAIL fredparenteditor@gmail.com SNAIL MAIL P.O. Box 7884, F'burg, VA 22404 www.fredericksburgparent.net The publishers reserve the right to reject any advertisement, editorial or listing that does not meet the publication's stan- dards. No part of this magazine may be reproduced with out permission. Listing and advertising rates are available upon request. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information con- tained herein, however, the publisher cannot guarantee such accuracy. Listings and advertisements are sub- ject to typographical errors, ommissions and/or change without notice. For terms and conditions please visit our website at www.fredericksburgparent.net © Copyright 2019 Nurture, Inc. All rights reserved. LIKE facebook.com/ FredericksburgParent SIGN UP www.FredParent.net TWEET twitter.com/fredparent PIN www.pinterest.com/ fredparent FOLLOW @fredparentmagazine I'm not sure where we will be when you read this, but as of now, we're all in a bit of a national holding pattern. Our government and state offi- cials, along with our top health care advisors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have us cooperating in a social distancing quarantine in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. For many parents, myself included, we suddenly found our second shift running con- currently with our first shift with a new job title added—teacher. I was working, man- aging the house with my wife and homeschooling the kids. When your kids (we have three) are in school a large portion of the day for 180 days per year, the weekends fly by and you forget what it's like to be on essentially a summer schedule with no camp options. That said, I got clued in pretty quickly that I should take full advantage of my ability to gain a second wind after 8 pm and just shift all of my work to an admin by day, writing and editing by night schedule. COVID-19 was disruptor. It exposed our deficiencies. It showed us that the rich and poor have the same fate now and in the end. It stripped us of control and thrust us all into uncertainty. However, if you had the right head about you, it was a welcome shake up. Here's what I observed… Each day as I strolled through my neighborhood now that I had more time to hit my step goal, I saw countless couples walking and talking, kids playing with balls and rid- ing bikes, families and neighborhood kids riding bikes together, people working in their yards. It felt like a departure to a simpler time, and it's something I think we needed as a nation. Technology was threatening to run away with us all and keep us on the ham- ster wheel—Grind! Produce! Get more! We had become busier making lives than living life. Our kids were riddled with anxiety, suffering silently from depression, and under academic pressure to succeed. And when COVID-19 smacked us into 1960, none of that seemed to matter. It's been about connecting with people, caring for people in need, supporting and sustaining local small businesses, and enjoying quality family time with kids and spouses. And that's the America I hope comes out on the other side of COVID-19. Caring, concerned, and cohesive with strong families and thriving communities. Because hey, sometimes what seems to be a curse truly is a blessing. Stay open. WRITTEN BY CHRIS JONES letter to readers Coronavirus and the American FY "We are stripped bare by the curse of plenty" – Winston Churchill