My father was in Iran visiting family when much of the world went into lockdown in March of 2020. Iran would turn out to be one of the hardest-hit countries during the first wave of COVID-19. 
My four children, aged nine, eight, five and two, were especially vocal in their demand for their grandfather to come home, borrowing my phone to send him messages until he promised to return as soon as possible. After some challenges, my dad managed to hopscotch his way through Europe and back to Ontario. When his two-week quarantine was over, my family finally exhaled. 
He was fine. We were lucky. 
Ever since COVID gripped the world, it seems my life is composed of these pockets of gratitude. Anxiety, anxiety, anxiety and then relief, like the first gulp of air after being held underwater.  I have a supportive spouse and parents and in-laws, healthy children, and I get to do what I love for a living. I feel lucky every day, but COVID has tested my ability to control my anxieties.
All my kids have been home for over a year, and while this in itself has been a source of only minimal stress?I decided to take my writing career freelance precisely because I wanted to spend more time with them?new elements, like virtual learning and lockdown restrictions, have been immensely challenging. 
My husband is an essential worker, which meant he was seldom around to help me and the kids with school work. Our toddler, who has a typical tyrannical streak at the best of times, was perpetually e...