The Coronavirus began disrupting our way of life over three weeks ago in March of 2020. Today, April 4, is day #22 at home.
Since I work from home, it wasn’t a huge challenge the first week — it was just a little louder than usual since the boys were on spring break. We were going to lay low that week since the virus was spreading and there were confirmed cases locally. However, when schools were closed and St. Louis was put on a “stay-at-home” order, we realized our world was going to change.
Homeschooling began on March 23 and that first week was a little messy. There were some tears, some eye-rolling, some attitude, some yelling and finally…some duct tape…
Kidding. Not kidding.
We typically get our household necessities and groceries delivered so that was still normal for us, but now I wipe everything down like a madwoman once it’s delivered. The mail and packages sit for days. The garage has become our decontamination chamber. And yes, this is all probably making me more neurotic than I already was about cleanliness and germs.
Toilet paper and hand sanitizer were the first things to sell out. Empty shelves were a real thing…and now people have to wait in line (6-feet-apart) to enter some stores (one in / one out rules have been implemented based on square footage).
And what’s worse than a TP shortage? For starters, we haven’t seen our friends and family in 3+ weeks. We miss them so much.
It could be worse…thank goodness I’m trapped with people I love 🙂
Fortunately, we have all found different coping mechanisms. The boys game, Eric bakes, cooks and games, we all play board games and watch more movies and TV than usual. I go outside A LOT, workout DAILY and constantly Zoom and text with friends and family. I value my much-needed #momtherapy — now more than ever.
Both Ethan and Max are are adapting well to their current schedule.
Max broke out his harmonica yesterday…I asked if he was going to play the “Stay-at-Home” Blues. He looked at me like I was a boomer…but that’s beside the point.
Ethan keeps himself busy with different tasks. After his schoolwork is complete he plays piano, builds LEGO, shoots hoops, reads, watches a show or movie or, of course, plays video games.
Max loves powering through his school work so that he can get done to get online with his buddies. They FaceTime each other and play video games. He’s not as well-rounded as his older brother with his free-time, but adores cuddling and playing with Phoebe. I am so thankful we adopted her when we did. She’s great therapy for us all.
Since we had to suspend our cleaning service, we’ve all picked up the slack and I’ve been teaching the boys some home economics. Each day the boys and I have a set chore and on a set floor of the house. It required some initial coaching (and a nice bump in allowance), but the boys have been a big help keeping up with the housework.
Eric has been busy cooking and baking and thus, we are very well fed. His menu includes homemade everything including bread, pizza, chicken pot pies, and meatballs. He has smoked meats, made smash burgers, beef Bourguignon, pasta carbonara, and more. Yep, we better keep up with our workouts or we’ll all be a bit rounder when this is over.
Eric and I shield the boys from the grim reality as best we can and we’ve been getting our daily news from reading articles rather than the TV. They seem to be coping well. But it also brightens our day when neighbors and friends do fun things to bring joy…like this…
And this…
Thankfully, work is going well for Eric and me. March was a tremendous month for Riot Games (apparently when people are stuck in their homes and apartments, they play lots of video games). And my clients are keeping me as busy as ever.
We opened the pool a bit early and Thursday night was our first hot tub plunge since last November.
It felt marvelous to have our concerns temporarily melt away, and it’s a nice addition to our family stay-at-home activity calendar the boys made.
Yep, still having piano lessons each week…via FaceTime!
Sadly, we lost a friend in California to this virus this week. A lovely man named Carl that Eric worked with for a few years in LA. He was in his 50s. Carl and his wife were inseparable. My heart aches for her and their children.
Another friend of a friend lost her mom to this (locally). The grieving process looks so different at the moment that I cannot imagine how people are coping when they cannot hold a service or have a family gathering. Some, like Carl’s wife, are grieving in solitude because they have quarantined themself.
I can handle staying at home. I cannot handle people I know dying from this invisible killer. I am afraid this will only get worse before it gets better, but I am trying my best to choose joy and see the light at the end of the tunnel.
At first, we were letting the boys socialize with the neighbor boys – which was so enjoyable for all parties – but after our friend passed away, we decided that it was probably best to respect social distancing with them as well…just to be as cautious as possible.
On a happier note, yesterday we drove by a friend’s house for her son’s 7th birthday to wave and honk our good wishes from afar. It’s the first time I will have driven in three weeks!
The silver lining is we are getting to slow down some evenings and spend a lot more time together as a family. We are working out every day…sometimes twice a day. We are cooking and eating at home. We’re tackling projects that normally are on indefinite hold (this blog being one of them). We are spending time outside, welcoming spring like an old friend. Heck, I’m even going to plant a garden. And our house will never be cleaner — or more organized — LOL.
But I miss my people. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss my kids’ teachers and classmates. I miss sporting events and traveling. I’m not sure how many more months this social distancing will go on, but I think this is only the beginning.
Until then, I will hug my children and husband tight and substitute anxiety with gratitude as much as possible. I am grateful for what we have and for all of those that are helping those in need including doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, teachers, mail and delivery drivers just to name a few.
And I will wait (with bells on) for visits from out-of-town friends and family, walks with my sister, hugs from my nieces and nephews, family gatherings and reunions, pool parties, ladies nights out, travel to foreign lands and all the other wonderful things I took for granted.
Godspeed normality.