Never before did I think I’d be proud of a mom-hack I figured out to get rid of my kids for an hour. I’ve been putting them in the daycare at the gym so I can go to the pool and read (or write) and it feels like pure luxury! I never read anywhere in my membership rules that I had to actually be working out, just on premise. I love my kids to death, but I just need a little space a few times a week from them treating me like a human jungle gym and the expectant looks of “Hey mom, how are you going to entertain us today if we can’t play with friends?”

So in lieu of the festivals, farmer’s markets (that don’t require social distancing) and crowded beaches this summer, we are spending time at our private gym that thankfully has an outdoor pool. It’s been a godsend – and so have the small businesses that have been nimble during this pandemic and deliver goods to my car curbside.

No one can deny that Milwaukee transforms into a different city in the summer. Riding my bike through my neighborhood on Saturday night felt eerily quiet and desolate. Where are the block parties, the grill outs? Truthfully, I miss the live music the most.

If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to slow down and think about how we are doing things. I have had plenty of time to reflect and have been seeing a few of the same people using safe distancing because we can’t live a life of isolation for the sake of our mental health. I don’t mind limiting my social circle, but I have learned that I really need my friends and new, in-person experiences.

Luckily, in addition to the pool, we’ve found plenty of outdoor places to explore that don’t involve a crowd. And it’s even been fun to stretch our limits a bit. I’ve also learned that there is no better way to keep a kid busy than with a stick and some water (unless you have YouTube kids).