The pandemic hasn’t taken the wind out of our sails as of yet, but our reality has shifted a bit. Playgrounds are closed, a lot of parks closed, non-essential small businesses are closed, concerts, sports and celebrations are canceled or postponed. Some household and grocery items are hard (or impossible) to find – toilet paper, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes – and get-togethers, parties and playdates are a thing of the not-too-distant past.
We have to wear masks if we go out in public, we get the mail while wearing gloves, packages sit for a few days before opening, we get almost everything delivered and we wipe down all groceries before they come into the house. Really, all of these things are minor in comparison to those who have lost loved ones or lost their job due to COVID-19. All things considered, we are doing just fine. We are healthy, happy and well-stocked. Heck, we even have a small bodega in our garage. Seriously.
Easter looked a little different: Mass on YouTube…no dressy clothes…no family dinner…Granted we did still dye Easter eggs and we did have an Easter egg hunt for the boys.
The hardest part is that we only get to see friends and family from a distance…a minimum of 6 feet. We’ve been to a few birthday parties and waved from a distance. It’s good to see friends and family, but so hard to not give them hugs and run and play with them.
Grammie’s birthday was April 15 so we made her a chicken pot pie, baked her some cookies and left her some sweet messages on her driveway!
Our daily schedule has shifted a bit: we sleep in and stay up a little later. Weekdays tend to blend together as the daily grind doesn’t differ much. Granted, school from home does allow for some perks that we wouldn’t otherwise enjoy.
However, the large moments that define the month and year are being canceled or postponed indefinitely. This doesn’t help one’s outlook during a global pandemic…
CPOP Carnival – canceled.
Ethan’s middle school play – canceled.
Hamilton at the Fox – canceled.
Elton John concert – postponed.
Visits from family and friends – postponed
There is a silver lining of course. We are spending a lot more time together. And we’re not driving each other completely crazy. We’re all getting more time to exercise, cook, play and cuddle.
Phoebe is getting so much love and attention. We all take turns playing Frisbee with her multiple times each day — at least, any day that it’s not raining.
Eric and I look forward to our D1 workouts 3 or 4 mornings each week and I’m also making my way through 100 Morning Meltdown workouts. (I started on day 1 of quarantine so I’m able to keep count!)
I love that board games, LEGO sets, sidewalk chalk and puzzles have new life and are scattered throughout our home.
We write to others and let them know we’re thinking of them.
We look forward to movie night each Friday night, game night on Saturdays and hot tub night when the weather cooperates.
The boys are outside riding their bikes more than ever. (Granted they look like clowns riding tiny toy bikes because they have both outgrown them!)
Only one more week of classwork (last day is May 8) since the school year is ending a few weeks early. It’s been a lot to manage work and also making sure the boys are on top of schoolwork. Max needs a lot of help each morning. Ethan mostly needs some deadline reminders and some help with math and larger projects.
That said, their projects have been really creative and fun. I love that teachers are assigning some outdoor schoolwork.
The extra time on the weekends allows us to enjoy the outdoors, play, read, cook, organize and our house has never been cleaner. Eric put together my elevated garden bed and I’ve planted lettuce, carrots, cucumbers and squash. I also have basil and mint. Tomato plants are on the way. Fingers crossed I can grow something edible this summer.
Eric has been enjoying his new toy…a bigger, more bad-ass smoker. Ethan helped him put it together and he’s already smoked more meats and roasted veggies for homemade salsa.
While this isn’t an ideal situation, we’re very fortunate to be able to make the most of it. And in truth, there’s no one else with whom I’d rather “shelter-in-place.”
APRIL 2020 
APRIL 2019