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‘Special gift’ for Mother’s Day, despite the coronavirus threat

It was back in December that Evan Fields and fiancé, Christian Christopher, got a new gift in their household: six-year-old Taylor Christian. Now, on her third Mother’s Day celebration, she is mother of two, instead of one.

“Right before the Christmas holidays, Christian and I asked for full custody of Taylor,” Fields said. “The court granted it to us, and Taylor came to live with us that same day. He is home now, and not just for the weekend.”

That first Mother’s Day, Fields was mother of four-month-old Ayden Christopher, born January 6, 2018. Mother’s Day last year, she had a one-year-old. This year, she will celebrate with two sons. Not even the COVID-19 threat and safer-at-home directives have dampened her anticipation for Sunday’s celebration.

“We know everything is opening back up, but we will be inside until it’s really safe,” said Fields. “Before everything got shut down, we had planned a trip to Nashville so the boys could see their Aunt Chris. But when Taylor came home for spring break, that all changed.”

Fields thinks there may be some unexpected, positive effects from families staying inside together. Being in close proximity naturally brings parents and siblings closer, she says. Fields is a working mother, but has no idea when she might be called back to her bartending job at one of the large, downtown hotels.

She was laid off, along with thousands of other bar and restaurant employees who make their living in the service industry. Some have relied on unemployment, while others are still waiting for payments to begin. Some service workers went to work for B.R. Distilling Company in April. The distillery, which normally makes bourbon and whiskey, now produces medical-grade sanitizer.

When all the bars closed, B.R. Distilling tried to keep their employees working by switching gears to a product in high demand. Enough supplies came in to make the sanitizer, but there weren’t enough employees to produce the sanitizer in high quantities. Out-of-work service people were offered jobs at the distillery. Fields declined.

“Being a stay-at-home mom is totally new to me,” she said. “But, we have grown closer as a family. This pandemic is frightening for children, and they don’t really understand. We are here to assure our boys that one day, they can play outside again, and things will be better.”

The family has no special plans for this Mother’s Day. They won’t be getting out to church or going to a restaurant. Since being in at home, they have eaten no fast food, or brought in takeout from a restaurant. There has only been home cooking.

“We eat healthier now, and that’s been good,” said Fields. “Always picking up fast food is one thing we won’t go back to. Staying in has been good for us. Taylor has settled into his place in our family. We feel blessed and complete.”

“Stepson” or “step-child” are not terms used in their household.

“Our sons are brothers, and we are their parents,” said Fields. “They know we love them, and that is enough.”

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