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This is not normal. This is not fun. This is actually the worst feeling ever, but I know this is temporary.

Today, my dad walked over four miles to our house so he could see Elliana through the window—again.

This has become a regular thing. It breaks my heart that my dad can’t hold my daughter. However, as you can clearly see on my dad’s face, he’s overflowing with joy just to see her. He only got to hold her twice before this pandemic locked us down. I hate that having a window between us is the only way she can see her grandpa, but again, I remember this is temporary.

RELATED: Check In With Your Pregnant Friends

While my wife was pregnant, I don’t think an hour went by where my dad didn’t brag about becoming a grandpa soon. Now, his granddaughter is finally here and the only thing he can hold are the daily pictures we send him. However, he knows this is temporary.

Even if you aren’t worried about catching it yourself:

Stay home for the new dads and moms who can’t wait to have the world meet their new baby.

Stay home for the grandparents who want to hold their new grandchild more than anything.

Stay home for the pregnant mom and nervous dad who are about to welcome home their newest family member.

Stay home for the great grandparents who know time is a gift.

Stay home for all the businesses who anxiously wait to open back up.

Stay home for the teachers and kids who are eager to get back to school.

RELATED: Dear Teacher, Why Didn’t We Get To Say Goodbye?

And especially, stay home for the doctors and nurses who are fighting this head-on and would give anything to just stay home and hold their kids.

If this grandpa can resist coming inside and loving his first grandchild, I know the rest of us can do this too.

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This is not normal. This is not fun. This is actually the worst feeling ever – but I know this is temporary. • • Today, my dad walked over 4 miles to our house so he could see Elliana through the window… again. This has become a regular thing. It breaks my heart that my dad can’t hold my daughter. However, as you can clearly see on my dad’s face, he’s overflowing with joy just to see her. He only got to hold her twice before #covid_19 locked us down. I hate that having a window between us is the only way she can see her grandpa – but again, I remember this is temporary. • • While my wife was pregnant, I don’t think an hour went by where my dad didn’t brag about becoming a grandpa soon. Now, his granddaughter is finally here and the only thing he can hold are the daily pictures we send him. However, he knows this is temporary. • • Even if you aren’t worried about catching it yourself: #stayhome for the new dads and moms who can’t wait to have the world meet their new baby. #stayhome for the grandparents who want to hold their new grandchild more than anything. #stayhome for the pregnant mom and nervous dad who are about to welcome home their newest family member. #stayhome for the greatgrandparents who know time is a gift. #stayhome for all the businesses who anxiously wait to open back up. #stayhome for the teachers and kids who are eager to get back to school. And especially, #stayhome for the doctors and nurses who are fighting this head on and would give anything to just #stayhome and hold their kids. • • If this grandpa can resist coming inside and loving his first grandchild, I know the rest of us can do this too. • • #girldad #thedad #stayhealthy #washyourhands

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Josh Gillett

Besides becoming a meme - I live in Zeeland, Michigan. My dad is a local pastor and my mom works at our local Holland Hospital.  I work at Hudsonville Ice Cream where we proudly make the World’s best ice cream.  
 
I married my beautiful wife, Lydia, just over 2 years ago. She is a special education teacher. She is my rock and deserves so much credit for always putting up with my shenanigans.  If you look at my Instagram, you’ll quickly realize I’m not afraid to make a fool out of myself - but she loves me all the same. 
 
Our first child, Elliana, was born 5 weeks ago. She is a beam of light in this dark time.  My wife makes being a parent look like a walk in the park, and it’s been so beautiful to watch her be a mom. I believe when you have a kid, you find a piece of yourself that you didn’t know was there.  You also feel a different type of love that you didn’t know existed.  Becoming a dad has been the best thing to ever happen to me.  It’s only been 5 weeks with this new life and it’s already flying by. I’m biased, but my daughter is the cutest thing in the world and that is absolutely no credit to myself... I'm thankful to God every day she got her looks from my wife! 

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