I recently had a fascinating discussion with my son Erick. We were discussing my youngest son James’ childcare situation. A hole developed in it, and we were discussing how to fill it in. The plan is to do so within our family, at least through November.

Erick’s complaint was my selection of the end of November. He said it was arbitrary. I pointed out that everything is uncertain right now, and he responded that was just hypothetical.

Yes, it is hypothetical. Every day past now is hypothetical. Because the future hasn’t happened yet! Unless you believe that time is a loop, but even if it is, would everything be certain?

Humans first understood time thousands of years ago. The sun rises, sets, and rises again. So a sunrise and a sunset and another sunrise mark a day. We broke that into hours, and minutes, and seconds, and into calendars, based on the turning of the earth, seasons and moon phases, things we can count on. Literally.

We plan. We take mortgages and car loans based on terms that extend into the future. We elect leaders for terms in the future. We plan for retirement, for vacations, for all sorts of future events. It’s all arbitrary, and hypothetical. Have I mentioned I love math, with the glaring exception of calculus?

Arranging childcare is a necessity. Having had two children with special needs, I can attest that finding the right people to care for a special needs child is paramount. And often, the best candidates are family members. Because love helps us overcome whatever special needs a child might have.

The future is always uncertain. Throw in the great uncertainty that is COVID-19, and pardon me for not planning for more than two months in advance. Except I will, eventually. Just not today.