Twenty Questions by Tanya Agler

Like the other bloggers, I too wondered about how to go about writing today’s blog. Everyone’s life has changed in the past few months, and it’s hard to know whether people want a total escape in a blog post or a look at how others are coping during this time. Well, I decided to write about the here and now. As a write-at-home mom, I’ve been balancing the writing with parenthood. Digital learning is quite an adjustment, and I’m proud to say I can teach a fourth grader how to convert from fractions to decimals to percentages, but I can’t teach my junior in high school AP Physics. Both my son and his teacher will thank me for that (as I thank all the teachers who have given so much of themselves during this time) as I seem to recall my physics teacher, who looked like KFC’s Colonel Sanders, shaking his head at many of my questions while walking away muttering to himself. Three of my four children are almost finished with digital learning for the year, and my oldest daughter is now finished with her college classes having completed her last final yesterday. Digital learning is just one aspect of their lives, however, and I’ve been trying to find activities to do together. I’ve introduced the twins to Mork and Mindy, and we’ve played board games, taking cellophane off Christmas presents from years past. Out of all the activities, however, walking around our neighborhood is one that I hope is creating memories.
Even though our subdivision doesn’t have sidewalks, it does have two long roads that are each about a mile in length. My ten-year-old son usually jogs ahead and then runs back to his twin sister and myself. He’s more active and uses the walks to release some of his energy. Cupcake likes to talk during our walks. So far, I’ve told her stories about my childhood, elaborating with anecdotes about my grandparents and vacations of years past. Sometimes, I find myself explaining about historical figures along the way as my grandfather, an avid amateur photographer, once interviewed Babe Ruth and the last King of Hawaii together while he was stationed in Hawaii. Cupcake listens to my stories and asks questions. Then when we hit the halfway mark of our walks, she usually asks to play a word game such as first letter-last letter where we spell out words that start with the last letter of the last word. We’ve also played quite a few rounds of “Would You Rather?” Cupcake’s favorite game, though, is Twenty Questions, where we try to guess whether the other is thinking about a person, place, or thing. It’s more like Thirty Questions since we both prefer to figure out the answer rather than have it told to us. Still, it’s been a great way for us to find out about the other as we tend to pick our role models for people and some of our future vacation destinations for places.
Two days ago, as Cupcake, Chunk, and I were on the last part of our walk, I stopped them as there were four deer in one of our neighbor’s yards. We watched from the side of the road as the young deer looked at us and we all stood there, quiet and observant. Even after they spotted us, they didn’t run off at first. When we started to inch forward, they crossed the street to another neighbor’s yard until they at last ran into the woods.
These walks are what I hope Cupcake and Chunk remember about this time. They will fashion their own stories about the current situation. I hope some of the peace from the moment when we saw the deer and the laughter from my stories and our word games become part of the fabric of their future.
What’s one moment during this difficult time that’s helped you?

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Comments

  1. Tanya, great thoughts on your neighborhood walks to give your children positive moments to remember....the laughs and the important exercise.

    My husband and I are fortunate to be able to get out every day for walks. We’ve found we stop to chat...following social distancing guidelines...and have longer conversations with our neighbors. This has been a positive in getting to know one another a bit more.

    Congratulations to all your kids on finishing the school year!

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    1. I'm so glad the weather where you are is cooperating so you and your husband can go out for walks. Cupcake, Chunk, and I went out for our nightly walk tonight. Chunk started by running, and then we ended on Twenty Questions! Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. I enjoy hearing other people's quarantine success stories. Congratulations to you and your kids!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Liz! I should have added the walks are an especial necessity because my wonderful husband loves to bake! Have a great day!

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  3. Tanya, I'm sure your children will remember these walks/talks and word games with you long after the coronavirus lockdown is long over. It's the little moments we remember, and that extra bonding time with your kids is so special. I find that my husband and I are having longer, deeper talks while staying home most of the time and we feel closer. We laugh more too. And explore a lot of our earlier memories. Good post!

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    1. I'm so happy to hear that walks and time together are bringing some benefits, like laughter and revisiting good memories! Thanks for dropping by, Leigh!

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  4. What a great gift you're giving your children. Someday, when their grandchildren read about it in the history books and ask, they'll say it was a special time in their lives when their family grew even closer.

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    1. And their last project in school for this year is a time capsule! Thanks for dropping by, Beth! (And the goat on your new cover - LOVE it!)

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  5. Morky and Mindy! My children stumbled on the 90s sitcom Family Matters. We've been playing rummy in the evenings. Before this quarantine, I can't remember having enough free time to sit and play cards. I'll take it.

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    1. I've taught my twins gin rummy! At least it's the gin my grandmother taught me. I don't think I'm playing according to real rules! Thanks for dropping by, Elizabeth!

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  6. Oh, I think your kids will definitely remember this time. This is the kind of things, with all it's oddities, that become so much a part of people's stories, especially kids. Love those long walks. Makes me nostalgic for my kids of decades ago! (Not that they aren't fun now, but you know what I mean.)

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    1. I totally get it. One of my fondest memories with my grandmother is going on walks with her. I hope they have some good memories of this time!

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  7. Hi Tanya: I started teaching 4th grade in 1960, and gradually moved up to middle school for thirty-five years. Now, retired, I facilitate memoir writing classes to members of retirement communities. Although I no longer give grades, you would get an A+ for your blog. You have a record of this day, and probably this year. This is an example of what we all need to do for our descendants. Write for your youngest descendant's descendant.

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    1. Thank you so much for the kind words! Have a wonderful day!

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