Kira Neely, age 6, is used to seeing her grandfather Marvin Neely, age 80, every day.
According to Kira’s mother, Sherrie Neely, the duo participates in events at Kira’s school, goes on walks, and plays together across the street from each other in Nashville, Tennessee.
In order to spend time together, the two families had to go outside the box when they started to stay at home earlier this month as a precaution against the new coronavirus epidemic.
As they stood across the street from one another, comfortably 6 feet apart, Kira got the notion the previous week to compete in a dance-off with her grandfather.
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According to Sherrie Neely, “She was very much up for the task and had her game face on, and of course, my dad quickly embraced it.” “Dad would comply with every request she made. I was surprised by how terrific he was because dancing had not been one of those things.”
When Kira was born, Sherrie Neely’s parents, Marvin and Gayle, Kira’s grandparents, moved across the street from their daughter and granddaughter.
According to Sherrie Neely, Marvin Neely used to take Kira on stroller walks every morning when she was a newborn and now goes to all of her events, including father-daughter gatherings at her school.
Since there would only be the two of us without it, she said, “it’s been a truly wonderful relationship.” “Having mom and dad next door, it’s been such a wonderful thing for Kira because our family is larger.”
Midway through March, Kira’s kindergarten class began using virtual learning. Sherrie Neely claimed that even before that, she and Kira started to socially distance themselves from her parents out of concern for doing so “at such a vulnerable age.”
The family is managing, though Kira has shed a few tears about not being able to embrace her grandparents or make a cake for her grandfather’s 81st birthday.
We once FaceTimed, but Sherrie Neely said, “It’s just easier to go outside and chat to them.” My dad watches her play while relaxing in a chair outdoors, and occasionally they kick a ball back and forth. She has the ability to draw and has hung images up for them to see.
We sometimes just sit outside and chat while we are apart, she said.