Finding new pathways to joy
By Louise Kinross
Two kittens have injected lots of cuddles and play into the Cosgrove household during the uncertainty of COVID-19.
Barnaby and Garfield “are my babies and I love them so much,” says Austin Cosgrove, 15, who has autism. “They've definitely made my life better.”
The Toronto teen says life during the pandemic has been “confusing—there's a lot of new stuff to get used to. I'm so used to being able to go out without having to worry, but now you have to make sure you have your mask, and make sure you're socially distancing. I personally I don't like things touching my face, because it gives me a sensory overload, and it feels like I'm restricted. So the mask thing is hard, but I'm slowly but surely getting over it. I've definitely missed social interactions with people outside of my family. But the pandemic brought me and my mom closer together.”
Purchasing Barnaby was a big decision made by the whole family, including Austin's brothers Liam and Phoenix. “She brought us so much happiness,” Austin says. “It was only one or two weeks before we decided to get another one. My mom joined a Facebook group for cats and asked if it was a good idea for us to get another kitten. Everyone said yes, it can help a cat's mental health to have a companion.”
That's how Garfield, who is technically Austin's cat, came into the family. “I love watching them together,” she says. “They're inseparable. It's brought a lot of light into our household.”
Austin says a kitten may be a good idea for other families spending more time at home. “But you have to make sure you're 100 per cent ready to take care of it,” she says. “It's a lot of responsibility and money.”
Sara Pot in St. Catharines, Ont. has been posting some gorgeous shots of her family flying kites. “We have a local path that is accessible enough for me to push both girls out to a lighthouse, and it's a perfect place to launch a kite, with no wires!“ she says. “The kite comes from a great little toy store in downtown Hamilton called Citizen Kid. It has no clumsy sticks, it wraps up easily, and it flies beautifully.“
The Pot family has also created an accessible butterfly garden in their backyard as a new way to appreciate nature at home. “It was always a challenge to take Rachel and Janneke off the deck and into the yard,“ Sara says. “However, in the past few weeks, we’ve been channeling our COVID-19 frustrations into soil, mulch and pollinator-friendly plants. Now our backyard includes an accessible butterfly garden, complete with a crushed gravel path! A landscaper friend created the path and layout of the yard. Different plants were split from neighbours’ perennials, gifted from friends and rescued from the clearance shelf at Walmart.“
The butterfly garden has been a welcome diversion given pandemic restrictions. “Taking everyone out for camping trips or outings is no longer safe or doable,“ Sara says. “This morning, as I watched the girls in our new garden, I was reminded of how important it is to slow down and see the small things. I’m teaching myself to be thankful for the wind moving through the leaves. The garden may not be Algonquin, but there’s beauty to be found. I observed Rachel’s eyes taking in the flowers and then shifting up in the direction of what sounded like a cardinal. I laughed as Janneke stuck out her hand to catch the spray of water from the hose, as Ralph watered the garden. These are good and rich moments. I will miss them if I'm not careful.“
You can read more about Sara's garden in this article she wrote: Grace in the Garden.
