Covid-19: I tried – and failed – to create a pandemic pod

Although the writer tried her best to be Cora’s ‘bestest’ playmate, the five-year-old still yearned for the company of other kids. — TNS

My five-year-old started to resent her situation late last March (2020), soon after the schools closed and after we barred play dates and trips to Chuck E. Cheese (an American family restaurant, which also has games and rides).

As the pandemic enveloped Southern California in the United States and Cora realised she wouldn’t see her friends for some time, her growing frustration manifested itself in misbehaviour, picking fights and door-slamming.