While we were living in quarantine my sons would often share their feelings about what they were dealing with. They expressed that they were missing friends, sports, food, family, and in their own words "even school" (as a teacher I didn't like the use of even, but that is secondary to their feelings). My daughter, who was usually upbeat, positive, and encouraging, was quiet in sharing how she felt. I asked her how she was doing, and she would say fine. I knew because she was so sensitive to how others felt, that she might think she shouldn't share her sadness, and that she was so insightful and recognized that both her parents were already feeling stressed and worried. I was concerned that in her mind she might think telling us her feelings would be adding to our burdens. However, I told her that she could tell me whatever she wanted to and that we would work through it together. She was by my side for most of the days and she would do her schoolwork right away in the mornings and then help me teach the kindergarten students during remote learning. She helped me with videos, with google, with reading stories, posting, and decorating the office for our google meets so we could imagine that we were at a campground, the ocean, or wherever our imaginations took us that week. We also created adventures of two fun people called "Ellie and Gail", took walks, danced, sang songs, and cooked together. I felt that if I tried hard enough I could replace all the sadness she was feeling, by filling the days with being together, until I stumbled upon a little tiny book. It was so small it seemed like it could have been written by a fairy, but when I opened it I knew it came from my beautiful daughter and it brought me to tears. It was entitled Things I Will Miss Because of Covid-19: as I turned the page the first page said "My First Kiss" and there was a picture of a heart crossed out and a person crying, page two said : "Hugs and Cuddles" and another sad crying face, the next page said "High Fives and Fist Bumps", "Holding Hands" came next with two sad faces and a heart in two pieces, then "Going on a Date" with another heart crossed out, "Getting Married" with a ring crossed out, "Going On My Honeymoon" with what I believe was the sun crossed out, a few other pages of sadness and then the last page said, " I won't be happy go lucky any more" and the book ended with a sad face. All these thoughts ran through my mind and I felt immediate grief. Along with every page, as I turned, waves of sadness crept through me and as a parent I was terrified that I could not make it better for her. Thank goodness she is so creative and could express herself through her writing, poems, and artwork. She amazes me every day and inspires me to be my best self. For when I read those words of sadness, I also felt the upmost love because I know that she sacrificed those bottled-up feelings for her family, so they would not worry. She is truly an amazing girl and I will do whatever it takes to make sure those dreams of hers will come true! I have faith, and that is one gift I hope I can give her, after what she has given to me!!!