Friends in the Neighbourhood rolled up in classic Covid curb-side style, and delivered a safe playdate extravaganza on the go. Except, I didn’t need to take my son anywhere, and that was absolutely the best part of the show. Replete with decorations, sparkly lights, comfy cushions, crafts, a fun and friendly volunteer and driver (you could see their smiles extending beyond the masks), this RV playdate was designed by a think tank of geniuses.
Those of us parenting a child with special needs during the pandemic have been awarded an extra special helping of HARD. Like an overloaded burger too messy to eat. The pandemic has thrown the world for an olympic sized loop, and that’s for a population who understands science to some degree and the existence of a virus. Our 8 year old Zachy does not. He knows school. He knows camp. He knows Friendship Circle. And the daily routine must continue to rise for him as consistently as the sun or there is misery to be had. And, unfortunately, there was a lot of suffering for Zachy and for us, his family, throughout the months of school closures and the halt of extracurricular activities. Interacting with teachers, buddies, babysitters and neighbours is the bread and butter of Zachy’s social life. And he is never full. So, even with the reopening of schools, and some Sunday programming, Zachy wants a second and third helping to compensate for missed time. We are lucky that Zachy is currently able to attend the programming that is available during this latter phase of the pandemic. Some kids can’t. They may be immunocompromised. There may be other family members who are fragile. Whatever the reason, they need friends and they need fun.
Cue Friendship Circle.
Friends in the Neighbourhood was dreamed up in an effort to combat the loneliness and social isolation children with special needs have encountered during the pandemic. It was specially designed for the sub-population of kids who could not attend the Friendship Circle centre. It happens to be that Zachy is thoroughly obsessed with vans and RV vehicles, so our request for a special weekly visit from Friends in the Neighbourhood was approved. I have to admit that as Zachy ran socked foot from our front door with a sibling in hand, into the beautifully decorated play space on wheels, I marvelled at how exquisite an RV could be and how inventive and adaptive we as humans can be. When Zachy emerged an hour later, satiated with his hour at the steering wheel, glowing from love and attention, I was similarly rejuvenated with the strength to lunge into the bedtime routine and tuck a happy, tuckered child into bed. Friends in the Neighbourhood was one of the miracles of the pandemic for me. It taught me to look into a box, for a way out.
