Kiddos & Quarantine

Video portion of multimedia project
Ameeta Swaby • Instagram photos of her child, Avani

Ameeta Swaby and her husband, Steven, both work for the military and currently live in North Carolina. They have two girls, Kaiya, age 2, and Avani, age 4. Ameeta Swaby is currently doing all feasible work at home, and Steven recently returned from a deployment but is expected to start traveling next week.

“We have adapted a new schedule in the mornings,” said Ameeta Swaby. “We are doing breakfast, followed by school for Avani.” Avani’s preschool teacher has been sending work out online for her classes. Kaiya is in daycare, and the parents have been printing off worksheets for her to complete. After schoolwork, the girls play outside for the rest of day, with a nap in the afternoon. While they’re resting, the parents try to get a workout in.

“I think we have built in our own structure, but for us it has felt like weekends all the time,” said Ameeta Swaby. “I don’t mind it. I know Steven misses work but he also is enjoying being home.

Swaby said her daughters love being home, and that they are used to being in daycare from 5 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the parents’ busiest of days. “Other than the newborn stage, they have never had time like this with both parents,” said Swaby. She explained that it is incredible to have so much family time, and that if her husband was deployed it would be far more difficult. “I have never been a stay-at-home mom and never thought I could be,” said Swaby.

Ameeta and Steven Swaby have been entertaining their kids with a variety of arts and creative activities. “We have been doing Play-Dough, making slime, mosaic art, and anything that is a craft,” said Swaby. “Just trying to keep them busy, outside, and away from the TV.”

Because they are so young, Swaby does not think her daughters will be affected academically. Although she said Avani does miss playing with her friends, and doing ballet and swim.

Ameeta Swaby • Instagram photo of Avani and Kaiya

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