The Coronavirus Baby Downfall
By: Tim Varner
Tags: Coronavirus, Addiction Recovery, Baby, Future, Family

Photo by David Veksler on Unsplash

Throughout this complete mess of a year, I have tempted and encountered many different challenges and obstacles. While battling my recovery without the aid of in-person meetings, and forfeiting my job of thirteen years to be at home with my children while they school. Every human on this Earth has faced some unpredictable and unwelcome circumstances.

Although I have been a part of my bonus children’s lives for more than four years now, I have yet to experience a baby from birth. I love my children as they are my blood and I forever will, but I understand there is a difference. With my numerous attempts at conceiving, my wife and I found ourselves blessed with a new offspring recently and without a doubt a gift of recovery for me. Even though our newest tormentor has yet to enter this world, my mind is becoming unsettled with future thoughts. In recovery, we are told not to look into the future, to focus one day at a time. To me that is more of a personal goal and when it comes to family and children you need to prepare and look towards the future.

With the predicted due date closing in, my mind explodes in a catawampus sense. With yet to experience a baby from birth my worries arrive with so many thoughts and considerations.

My new son will not be able to experience his grandparents from the start, he will not be able to enjoy baby play dates or even normal family outings. Parks, recreation, public pools and so many more. I struggle to wonder how it will be raising a child in a secluded and sheltered environment, not only for his protection but for our peace of mind. With the debate never-ending on the virus topic of fact or fiction, truth or faux, I find myself weary with a new life coming. The uncertainty and misguidance that is taking place throughout the world brings the late great movie ‘Blast from the Past’ to mind. Starring Brendon Fraser raised in a bomb shelter and never experiencing the world first-hand until later in life, I can’t help but compare my realistic visions to the film.

Realistically speaking our circumstances are far in comparison, but I still worry about how a child being raised from the start in this environment can succeed in independence. With my two other children they are old enough to understand the situation and as frustrating as it can be they have accepted this new lifestyle.

I feel horribly for the children these days, young and old, not having the possibility of experiencing life to its fullest. Without the possibility of in-class lessons, graduation, birthday parties and all the debauchery that comes with growing up, (some argue it is a blessing) but I’ve seen much more damage in sheltered children than the wild ones.

We still try to give our children the joys of childhood the best we can but it does pose a large mountain to climb.

Everyone is struggling through this insanity, but there is no doubt in my mind the future leaders of America have gotten the worst end of it. I worry about my baby coming into a world like this, not for the physical health threats but more for the mental. As a recovering alcoholic, I have struggled for years tempting the laws and banishing my morals, but I had that choice. (By no means am I saying addiction is a choice), but the decisions made in my own life I take complete responsibility for. Currently, the children of this world do not have very many choices, I believe it is going to affect our future more than the present and for that I am fearful. Fearful for the living and yet to be born.

All in all, this pandemic will never change the way I guide my children. With love and affection, lessons and grief they will know my wife and my story, but sadly enough we now HAVE to rely on technology for the rest. The world has seen some uncertain times and will continue to do so but at this current time, this is my story.

One day at a time