We are surviving. In fact, I believe that we are thriving. When I sit and think about day 35, I have to admit that it still just feels like a long weekend…How did we get to day 35?Isolating can be hard. It can be so easy to beat ourselves up about how much tech time our kids are getting. We still need alone time. Are we providing our kids with enough school work or ‘social’ time compared to other families. Realizing that they days are still flying by yet we do not have time to accomplish all we want to in a day. No wonder we did not have time to do all the things we wanted to when we had our busy schedules. I have, however, realized that none of that matters. We need to let go of the guilt and start to see all the little things that we have been given due to this pandemic.
The first thing I notice was how my kids started to play together, all of them. Usually William, the oldest, would play with Douglas, the younger, but Eleanor would not get involved. As the days started to get on, she has started to play with them. They have figured out how to all play together. They have found some new common ground. They have also learned how to fight, how to forgive and how to play again. I probably intervened too many times before, but now being at home, I just let them fight – guess what – they figured it out! I would have to say that this isolation time has given my children the time to get to know each other and build a relationship on a new level.
Our littles one is four, when the other two were little, both my husband and I were working full-time professional careers and had the kids in daycare for 10 hours a day. This time has let us truly enjoy our little Douglas, all his little quirks, the things that come out of his mouth and how he makes all four of us smile and laugh everyday. Even though I had been home a whole lot more, I was still on the treadmill of a busy life and not able to enjoy how quirky and funny he is. This little dude is amazing…I am so grateful that we are getting to spend so much time with him during this little age before he is off to school in the fall. We have started to video a whole lot more of our life, write more stories and ultimately have more snuggles then ever imaginable. Today, he asked if next year we could trap the Easter Bunny so we could give him one pet so he knows that we are thankful for all the treats, then let him go. He is always thinking, always thinking about everybody else, how to be grateful and thankful. To sit and see life through the eyes of a four year old makes this pandemic easier. It makes you see life as it should be, smaller. It allows you to enjoy the things that you have right in front of you, not to be concerned by all the noise that clutters your mind. Four year olds do not have that, they see the joy in everything. Here is a little video of the cuteness 🙂
This time has given us three meals a day at home. They are not all nutritionally perfectly, but they are all made at home. I did not realize how many times we made a quick stop at Starbucks for milk or A&W for dinner on the way to the rink. During this time, we have ordered in twice, once Papa Johns and one Meat pies. Our neighbour organized a large group order and we supported a local business and we all got a break from cooking. My daughter has noticed that she feels healthier, we all take Ningxia everyday, and she is enjoying eating at the dinner table. We have also started our kids doing daily chores, something we had always started but never followed through with as we were too busy. Now they get up, make their bed, empty the dishwasher and put their own clothes away. The first few weeks it was a fight, but now it is automatic and they are just doing it. I think this also gives them some satisfaction, though they would never admit to it. It is all these small things that make us a family, that bring us closer. We are all working together to make this as pleasent as possible.
The positive of all the technology time, yes there are some. The kids can connect with their grandparents and play fun games and William has made new connections with those in his class. He has a standing play-date with one of his classmates and usually three or four log in and play together. I was initially very against some of these games, but listening to the boys communicate, work together and have to compromise with each, they are growing on me. The communication skills he is building are excellent. They have to talk, be clear and concise, and make decisions quickly while under pressure. I think that these are great skills for anyone to learn. There are even positives to Fortnite!
Lastly, I am immune compromised and so many beautiful neighbours, friends and family have reached out to us. They have offered and have brought us groceries, wine and just simply asked how we are doing. Sometimes we hear a knock on the door and there are cookies, ice cream or beer left on our porch, to that we are grateful. We have started a text thread with our neighbours, we have connected more with them in the last month then ever before. One night we all sat on the driveway and enjoyed a drink while the kids rode their bikes around. We were all busy running our kids from one activity to the next and simply to busy to send a simple text. It has been so nice to share our struggles, our success and the funny memes with a great group of women. I am so grateful that we are healthy, developing different relationships with in our home and outside our home. There will be good that comes from this.
This time has given our family so many gifts. I had not realized all the little things that we are gaining as a family. I had slowly started to see a few and new that I had to dig every day to see the good, what the purpose of this isolation? I do diffuse Believe and Clary Sage, keeping my thougths positive. Keep finding all the positives, don’t get too concerned with federal debt, home schooling and keeping up with what others are doing. Do your best to breathe deep and have patience with those that are isolated with you. There will be good.
Wherever it Points 