I do not like that we are living through yet another cautious winter under the auspices of the world’s most tenacious pandemic, but I am glad we get to flex our newfound skills in keeping a small child entertained while temperatures fall into the teens—without staying in our apartment. No indoor play spaces? Parkas and playgrounds. No singalongs? Bring a bluetooth speaker to the park so the kids can dance. No movie theaters? Hop in the car and park on the Greenpoint waterfront for a drive-in screening of WALL-E (which, by the way, absolutely holds up after fourteen years). Throw some watermelon to on the roof of the car to crisp up, eat a pizza on the folded-down backseat, and gaze at the skyline as the snow begins to fall. It’s almost like things aren’t totally falling apart, which is the least we owe this kid, and occasionally ourselves.

dad