My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 13th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which hundreds of teachers participate in posting a story per day.

Dear Kids,

Today was our first day of school closure. Well, actually school was still open, but I kept you both home. School closes officially on Wednesday.

It was a challenging decision not to send you to school today. On the one hand, I don’t want to seem alarmist, like I’m overreacting. On the other hand, I will do anything — anything — to protect the two of you. Nothing is more important than that. Plus, your poor teachers have enough to deal with right now.

Instead of staying home all day, I took you skiing. Our mountain will most likely close any day now, but for today, the lifts were still spinning. Today was a beautiful, blue-bird, freezing cold winter day. It felt so good to do something normal, and something that we love so much. Everything from packing up the ski equipment in the car, to carrying our skis through the frozen parking lot to the yurt felt like such a normal, routine thing to do. It was good for our mental health.

Plus, the two of you got to ride the lift together without a grown-up for the first time today! That was my favorite moment of the day, sitting in the chair right behind the two of you. I could vaguely hear Lily talking and talking the entire way up, chattering away, though I couldn’t make out the words. Jackson was leaning in and looking up at his big sister. Lily handed him a few Skittles from the supply I gave her in her pocket. The sun was shining. We had a great day.

At this very moment, I’m letting you stay up a little later than usual to finish a movie together, all snuggled up on the couch.

I guess this is how will manage. Making the best out of each day, one day at a time.

I love you both so much.

Love,

Your Mom