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Mom's Secret Fort

Janel Schermerhorn is an American living in Berlin during the coronavirus lockdown. From her secret pillow fort, she reports on the little adjustments to routine and perspective that drove her to carve out this private space in her basement. Hers is a much needed voice of hope and humor in a time of collective anxiety. If only for a few minutes, she invites everyone to join her in Mom's Secret Fort.

May 28, 2020

How does a primary school open during a pandemic? Janel takes us on a step by step tour of the social distancing and hygiene protocol at her daughter's primary school in Berlin, Germany. 


May 28, 2020

There's something about the kids you grew up with. Janel gets tagged in her fourth grade class photo during the coronavirus pandemic and the nostalgia hits hard. Will our kids ever get back to a carefree childhood?   


May 20, 2020

Nine weeks of closed hair salons during coronavirus lockdown means many of us have a big gray stripe in our hair. Janel has an appointment to get rid of hers but is hesitating. What on earth could be so important about some gray hair? 


May 14, 2020

Coming out of lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic can be messy. Janel shares talks about navigating the many contradictions and the few things she knows for sure she can do to stay sane. 


May 6, 2020

Janel faces sending her 10-year-old daughter back to a school during the coronavirus lockdown. A school whose initial hygiene plan wasn't exactly awesome. But with new information and perspective she happily walks her to school and even gets a second chance at a sweet moment she had missed last fall.