Five years ago I volunteered my time
to help the son and spouse with childcare.
I still had opportunities to rhyme
and exercise, exchanging office air
for inside/outside kid activities,
from four months old to walking, talking play.
I got to share in first discoveries
of all the local world, in full array.

An office day and three with family
engaged my weeks until the virus hit.
Then quarantine forced extra time on me,
for language play I found appropriate.
And now the kids are old enough for school,
I’ve even more of leisure to retool.