It being mid-September, mothers and fathers around the country are starting to look ahead to the fall plans we have in store for our children. Every fall brings a few classic moments: apple-picking, pumpkin foods, and Halloween.

This year, it’s different. In every parenting group I am in, the question being asked is this: “What are you doing for trick-or-treating this year?“ We are asking these questions because we have seen our children face so much disappointment over the last six months and want to set expectations appropriately. We understand that there are annual events that cannot be repeated: Easter and Passover meals gathered with family, going to summer camp, and, this year, we learned that the magic of the first day of school cannot be replicated virtually. Due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, children have faced the sudden cancellation and closure of everything: schools, holidays, sports, play dates, playgrounds, you name it. Countless staples of their childhoods are also facing indefinite closure: dance studios, indoor gyms, play spaces, and restaurants; the toll on small businesses is astronomical and disproportionately affects leisure activities that children partake in.