Today is a big day for us. Exciting and scary and all the emotions. Today, Ezra is going to his nanny share.

Ezra’s best friend lives a block down, and their family has been quarantining with their nanny since March. Now that my own shoots are picking up, we realized that either Ezra was going to watch TV all day long (which he is not opposed to, sadly) or we could start his planned summer care plan early. We opted for the latter.

We adore this family more than you know, and we trust them implicitly (obviously). But it’s still a little scary. Yes, our state is opening up, but I’m still very nervous about it. I’ve seen how the numbers are climbing in other states that opened a few weeks ago, and that scares me.

But at the same time, my child has not seen or played with another kid in more than 10 weeks. That has to be affecting his development, and I know it’s affecting his happiness. So today we are taking a big step. Wish us luck.

And yes, I’m starting to shoot again, but I am being extremely cautious — both for the health of my own family and now this other family who has so graciously opened up their home. I’m only shooting outdoors, from 8 feet away while wearing a mask. I had my first sessions this weekend, and they were lovely, so it can be done and we can still have fun while doing it.

I am fitting in the occasional newborn session, but I ask that the families I shoot quarantine for 2 weeks before I arrive, and I do the same (no shopping/errands/etc). It’s a big requirement, but the last thing I want on my conscious is making a baby sick. I wear a mask, and I shoot from much farther away than normal, and the sessions are a bit shorter.

These are such serious and weird times, aren’t they? But this little, tiny bit of normalcy — working again and having a friend for my kid to play with? I am so grateful for them right now. I just hope it doesn’t bite me in the ass.