Get the Wheels Turning

Pandemic had made us house prisoners, the fear of going out and being exposed to the outside world is kept us isolated within our walls. Almost two years after, this is still the case. With children in the house, it is just undeniably tempting to go out so they could run around, be free.

A few days ago, we took up the courage to go out with the kids to the neighborhood, there's a barangay basketball court just a few steps away from our house, yes it is just a few steps away and we had been having doubts if it is safe to get them there. Thankfully, there was no one in the court.

Since the pandemic, the basketball courts had been turned into parking spaces instead. There are no more basketball rings, no dribbling sound, the floors had been broken due to the numerous vehicles that run here and there inside the court. It is not a good thing to behold especially knowing that these are government projects.

More importantly that without basketball games being played, it means less physical exercise for the people around. No entertainment for those who are always on the lookout for basketball matches and no vendors hitting their bells to attract customers during a game.

No masks worn, some may freak out looking at this photo but it is just liberating to walk a few steps outside the house gate without it. I never loved wearing masks, regardless of their fashion. Masks and face shields are necessary when we go out in public places but for this occasion, we left them in the house, my brother had already inspected that no other people are on the basketball court and that's a good thing.

The grandparents had gifted these kids with bikes and pushcarts for the smaller ones. Zaila is already eleven years old, she got a bigger mountain bike. She has a smaller one but she opt to take this because she said the small one is for kids, she is not a kid anymore.

Seth is already five years old, he is Zaila's younger brother. He has autism but he loves to go out and ride his bike. He drives pretty well and would even speed up which is a bit scary but he laughs, giggles, and smiles a lot when he is on the steering wheel.

ZM, is four years old, my brother's adopted child. He is a very adventurous child, he expresses his feelings well and is also a bit naughty but he is afraid of his daddy. He has a bigger bike compared to Seth's.

Matti's pushcart or push car was bought a few months ago, it was supposed to be a roomy car, meaning, we shouldn't get it out because we put it inside our room but for today, we gave in to the grandmother's pleads to let Matti ride it outside the house.

Qwyn Amari's push car is the latest addition to the family. She is going to celebrate her birthday soon and so they bought this pink and purple one for her as an advance birthday gift. It's called a space car and there's even an alien in front that has lit-up eyes. Both of these push cars have music buttons too!

Picture first before they start pedaling, as to these little ones, someone has to push them for their wheels to move. Matti can already walk but I decided to let him be in the car.

Amari rarely visits us since they live in another town, same as Zaila and Seth so we decided to keep them entertained while they are in town. These kids can't go out of their houses so it is good that for this time, they are not bound to their walls.

From around four in the afternoon until six, we were just out there, the kids pedaled and were sweaty, it was a good sign. On a normal day, these kids are just stuck in the living room, watching tv or playing with their parent's phones, as for Zaila, she has an iPad and would play games like Roblox, she is now addicted to Call of Duty and I told her that's a little violent but she loves it. I was amazed that she could manage to play it with a touchscreen, I usually hear guys play it on the computer.