COLUMN
By: Joe Cagle
Y
ou often hear the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I’ve always agreed with that statement but I never knew just how big the village was. Shortly after the COVID-19 outbreak in America I learned the village raising my twin four-year-old boys is very big indeed. My mother has been a constant point of strength for my wife and me since our boys were born in December of 2015. Lauren’s side of the family has also been a point of support for us since the boys were born. They will always get the love and appreciation from us they deserve. However, a new group has entered the “circle 8 · LAKE CITY
of trust,” and that’s the twins' teachers. Since August our boys have seen the same teachers five days a week almost without fail. When it was announced that schools, businesses, and public buildings were to be closed we quickly realized just how much a part of all our lives these teachers are. Since the school closures we’ve talked with the boys' teachers on several occasions and they miss us as much as we miss them. It’s odd that we don’t realize just how many people affect our lives in a positive way until we don’t see them for long periods of time. I imagine a lot of you have been going through
the same thing in the last few months. I’m sure you’re ready to grab a coffee without any worries, or sit down at a local restaurant and chit chat with the staff. I know I’m ready for everything to return to normal, and hopefully by the time you’re reading this it has returned to normal, or it’s quickly getting there. When all of the news broke about COVID-19 and its effect on America, I was of course concerned about the health of my friends and family. I was also pretty concerned as to how in the world I would entertain two four-yearold boys seven days a week for God knows how long. I asked myself, “how can I be exactly what
