While many parents will surely testify to the challenges of raising a family, some are left with no choice but to do it under extremely unusual circumstances.

Brad and Ashley Milavski had their first daughter just over two years ago. They’re due for their second, Molly, sometime in August–right in the “gray area” of cancelled and undecided plans drifting around the supposedly upcoming aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ashley has worked as a nurse practitioner for several senior care facilities in Denver, while Brad works as a business development representative for an investment firm. “Business travel for me has been shut down for the rest of the year, but if I ever think I’m having a bad day, I just think of what my wife is going through on a day to day basis,” Brad said.

At one point, the Milavskis even had a scare. “Ashley had an upper respiratory thing going on for a few days,” Brad said. “She did get a test, but the test came back negative.” Ashley’s in a tough spot because her work requires her to visit her patients face-to-face often, even though both she and her patients are at-risk for COVID-19.

“At the end of the day, our biggest job is just making sure our daughter spends enough time playing outside,” Ashley said. “I think that the hardest part is socializing with other kids.” While both parents have to work to keep their professional lives in order, they’re also faced with the task of balancing that and raising their daughter, all while having to follow the guidelines of social distancing.

While facing the many challenges that come with raising a family during a pandemic, the family remains steadfast and resilient, perpetually devising plans and methods for keeping their daughter safe and healthy.