Fishing lessons are sometimes more about sharing than casting a line. (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

I was away for work and decided to take a mini break. My husband was fishing, and I picked up garbage on the beach. (Sadly, shell gathering is a thing of the past.) Three little kids came running up to my husband, wanting him to teach them how to fish. They didn’t want a lesson but wanted to catch monsters and other imaginary creatures found in books. Their mother quickly ran over, apologizing for her children’s behavior. My husband loved the chance to teach, and I quickly bonded with this mother.

She spoke about her COVID hardships. She was fostering her three children and unable to leave her area while stuck in a 500-square-foot apartment. She didn’t have the legal right to move the kids, so she tried to think of creative ways to motivate them while helping them adjust. Each child has different physical and mental challenges to make matters more complex. After COVID restrictions were lifted, she applied and successfully adopted all three children. We watched each child take turns casting the line into the water. We joked that the fishing could turn into a math lesson if we waited long enough. She said her children could always use the help. Her kids might struggle with sharing, but adapting is one of their superpowers.

This mother’s most significant challenge was teaching her kids to share. The children’s previous foster situations were about not sharing. She told stories about her kids counting the objects they owned and keeping their belongings within reach. Bringing them to her home, she focused on giving and receiving. Sharing is always a matter of trust. Her kids arrived with very little of it. Then COVID happened, and she had to go back on her word. She couldn’t adopt, and they couldn’t share. Yes, COVID and sharing were words not casually joined together. The mother mentioned that one day, she’s telling her kids always to share, and the next day, she is saying the opposite. COVID made us suspect everything. This mother told me of all the rules she pivoted through; the one she is still building on is trust.

The children started squabbling about whose turn it was, and the mother looked alarmed. I reassured her that my children have argued over similar things. The mother gathered her children while they approved the group fishing picture. She texted me later and thanked me for sharing; It’s not just for children.

I applaud all the parents who pivoted during COVID. Learning to share is difficult enough without adding restrictions. My reminder is I can always learn from other parents and children. Sharing our struggles isn’t the same as sharing a physical object, though it still builds on trust. I hope you have a close friend, neighbor, or even a stranger on the beach to unload some of your burdens. Here’s to more sharing and trust.