When I look back at the spring of 2020 and the Covid-19 quarantine, I can’t help but think my attitude toward it will be much different than most.

Don’t get me wrong, it has not ideal for me by any means.

I miss my students and feel terrible for seniors and their missed commencement ceremony.

I don’t care for the online teaching model at all.

I miss being able to see my parents.

And this pandemic caused the most stress I’ve ever endured when trying to get my daughters home from France and Spain.

And while I haven’t lost anyone close to me from the pandemic, I fear that and feel terrible for those struggling to survive with no family members by their bedsides and I ache for the families who can’t comfort them.

But I have to say, Covid-19 has strengthened our family bond.

For weeks, we have eaten dinner at the dinner table every night and asked each other to describe the high points of our days.

We exercise together on bikes and roller blades, and walks with the dog have become rewarding, fun and funny experiences.

My daughters and I have had harmony singing sessions while Kirsti played guitar and I watched a beautiful moment when she and Sarah sang one of Kirsti’s original songs called “Dust.”

We’ve played Uno, Horseopoly, SpongeBob Life and lots of spirited Wii bowling and Balance Board games.

A weekly fire by the pool has been some normalcy from the past.

And we’re keeping a running tab on a closet wall white board of fun, interesting or funny happenings we’ve endured during the Covid quarantine.

There’s a “Mouse King” reference, alluding to both the insanely popular “Tiger King” Netflix series and my prowess at corralling a loose mouse in the house that first prompted screams and jumping on furniture by the three ladies in the house and then cheers upon my re-entry into the family room after dispatching the critter outside.

There’s the “Embrace the suck” message from my wife, which really sums it up nicely.

There’s a bloodshot eyeball proclaiming “screen hell” and an “old people near water” reference to our new-found fun watching YouTube funny videos of epic old people fails.

And there are some less PG entries on the board that I’ll leave for your imagination.

But the truth is, Covid-19 gave us another chance at being a tight family of four.

Realistically, with Kirsti at almost 23 and Sarah at almost 20, the four of us were never going to live under the same roof for any period of time again.  Covid-19 made that happen.

Is it perfect? No.

Have we gotten on each other’s nerves? Oh yeah.

But like me, I think my three ladies are going to look back at these days as a time when our family got stronger.

I will cherish the singing, the impromptu, slightly inebriated dance parties, the meals  together and the love I feel.

I think my first message on the white board was “I’m thankful to be quarantining with y’all.”

I really mean that.