One of my sisters recently turned 3, in early April. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we didn’t throw an actual party, but we “zoomed” our family in California and celebrated it that way. 

Because of COVID-19, we can’t be in any crowded areas of more than 10 people, and have to stay six feet away from anyone outside the house and  we can’t get together with friends and hang out or celebrate someone’s birthday. We also can’t have work meetings in person, also the reason why we’re not in school right now. 

What is the answer to this problem? The answer is now online meeting hosts such as Zoom for birthdays, meetups and other get-togethers. A lot of people have started using Zoom for meetings, school and birthdays.

Since the last three weeks my family has been using Zoom for school and work, meeting with friends as well as birthdays. When we zoomed with our family in California for my sister’s birthday, I was happy to see them but sad that we can’t see each other in person. Because Zoom is like FaceTime or Skype accept up to 100 people can join one Zoom at the same time, it’s great to use for meetings (which is why it is used for meetings). 

Coppell ISD has also started using it for some classes too, and I’m happy to see my teachers and school friends even if it’s not in person. It’s sad that we’re missing out on each other’s birthdays, Prom, hanging out with friends, going to the movies, going to school…. It’s also sad that we can’t celebrate our birthdays together, in person. I miss talking to my friends (in and out of school) and family (outside of Coppell) in person, but I’m happy that Zoom at least allows people to see and hear each other.

My other younger sister also recently celebrated one of her classmate’s birthdays. But because everyone is social distancing, she and my mom dropped off her present and joined the Zoom that was set up for the party. I don’t know a lot about what happened during the Zoom that day, but all I know was that they made little fairy gardens. 

This summer, my sister is turning 6. If social distancing and shelter-in-place extends past that, it would probably be a long time before we go back to school again. This would likely mean we’re going to have to Zoom for her birthday too.

People are also finding other ways other than Zoom to celebrate their birthdays. One way is a drive through birthday, where the neighborhood gets together as a drive through caravan for one of their neighbors’ birthdays. Another had personal “trick-or-treat” while on their daily walk with their family. One had their friends standing six feet away from each other, in front of their house or building wishing them a happy birthday.You can also celebrate your birthday with just your family that lives in your house.

Hopefully, the isolation orders do not extend past December, because then it affects my birthday. However, if it does, I’d like to contact my family or friends on Zoom, then have a family movie night. Even if COVID-19 does end, things won’t be the same as they were before the pandemic. 

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