As the pandemic stretches into its second year in Virginia, some area parents have had to navigate a new path forward, maneuvering around the numerous and constant challenges that have been put before their families. The COVID-19 pandemic that has so far claimed more than 525,000 lives and, in Virginia, has resulted in more than 590,000 cases and nearly 10,000 fatalities has affected families to varying degrees. It has canceled plans, devoured vacations and family outings, changed the way parents work and taken students out of school. Parents in the Lynchburg-area despite their different situations are finding common lifelines in how they have approached this past year, oftentimes leaning on family or faith or fighting back with resilience.