It’s great to have a routine in times like these. Since Sweet Girl was born, I’ve been consistent with bedtimes as much as possible. Each night, SG and I discuss what the next day entails. Sometimes I have a class or something I need to do and I tell her in the hope of not being disturbed. It’s easy to just stay in PJs all day, but that is not healthy for me. I like putting on sweats after a shower, but I still put myself together.
We are incredibly blessed to belong to a school that has a well-organized schedule of Zoom and Seesaw classes for its students. I’ve heard that many schools are not as organized. Some have some recommended learning links to explore; some have nothing at all. SG has Homeroom every day at 8:10, followed by Magnet (PE, Music, Art, or French), Math, Reading, and Science on Thursdays. Her teachers and fellow students are on there live, able to give a lesson and ask questions. There are real homework assignments with due dates. I would venture to say that SG likes this far more than “real” school because she’s able to see her friends and teachers from her living room couch, have snacks whenever she wants, and take breaks to go outside. I like it because I can see everything she is working on. I’ve already gotten to help explain the chemistry of photosynthesis and glucose creation as well as help her write a persuasive essay. I absolutely love seeing her take this seriously and stay on top of her work.
We go for a walk outside at least once each day, usually mid-day and then after dinner. SG likes to ride her scooter around the neighborhood and it feels good to move my legs. We almost always see other people too and wave and smile. Most days, that’s the extent of my social interaction and I’m content with that because I’m already feeling inundated by being with another person all day long.
(I saw a hilarious cartoon on Facebook with an introvert saying “I can’t wait for this to be over so everyone can leave and I will be alone in the house again.”)
I usually read, write, or listen to podcasts/webinars I’ve missed while SG is doing her classes. It is crucially important that I have my own space right now or I’d lose my mind in all this togetherness. We originally set SG up in my office, but she sensed my frustration with sharing my space and moved to the living room. After 12:30, we have lunch, play some games, and either work on a puzzle, Legos, or watch tv shows together. Sometimes there’s reading time or a FaceTime call with one of her friends. We have dinner as a family and do some kind of fun game before bedtime story and sleep.
Weekends are pretty much our usual, except we don’t go anywhere besides for a longer walk. It’s nice to have Mr. B with us all day Saturday and Sunday to help with meals or entertainment ideas.
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I’ve been watching for any sort of anxiety or worry from SG, and I have been limiting news exposure, being more available than normal, giving extra hugs and snuggles. So far I haven’t seen much to be concerned about. She is still talking to friends, has even more time with me, and seems to have no issues with eating or sleeping. Her mood has been mostly great. She even likes helping me clean the house! Her greatest worry is that summer camp might be cancelled, which it probably will be.
I have also been trying to point out to her all the good that is coming from this virus. The way people have been helping and supporting each other, world wide, is truly inspirational… even miraculous. I showed her the photo of healthcare workers on an airplane to New York, the photo of ventilators from Chicago lined up to go to New York, and all the people and companies donating supplies, food, and more to those who need it. I think it’s important for her (and for me) to see that our society will fill in the gaps from “the bottom up” when “top down” leadership fails. We talk about how our family can help too.
Right now, we still have trash pickup and mail delivery and can get groceries delivered. Of course, I’m trying to anticipate any of those ceasing to be available. What would we do this summer to entertain ourselves if we couldn’t get games, books, or pool toys delivered? What would we do if we had another hurricane in August and are still homebound? Best to be prepared for anything, right?
Finally, I talk with her about what I’m learning right now. I always liked to share in this way, but now poses so many more opportunities for personal growth. She sees the green rubber band on my wrist that reminds me to practice Patience. She wants one too. She likes to hear stories about how people are changing in this time at home. Hobbies, new projects, positive outcomes. We both love watching videos of zoo animals meet each other for the first time, or seeing wild animals come into city centers and explore.
As we prepare for a slightly different Passover experience this year, we have to keep in mind that we may be restricted in many ways right now, but we are still free to believe however we wish, free from most types of enslavement, and we can still follow the commandment to tell the familiar story of our ancestors’ journey from slavery to freedom. If anyone would like to join our family’s virtual seder, you are most welcome.
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Written on March 21 but not posted:
Ah, it’s finally Saturday and Mr. B is available to spend some time with our Sweet Girl and allow me some time to myself. I was sitting in the living room snuggled under a blanket, drinking a cup of coffee, and happily reading The Everything Store when it occurred to me that I will need to plan next week’s schedule and activities. I got up to get my computer and paused to think about an article I read a few days ago about a professor in St. Louis who recommended that it’s important to keep a journal or some sort of record of these days in order to add some perspective to this crazy time.
I already have pages and pages of ideas for kids, including podcasts, lists of movies, obstacle courses, learning websites, craft projects, scavenger hunts, science experiments, virtual storytimes, tours, and concerts, as well as things to play or clean or build. The more I see available, honestly the more overwhelmed I feel. So I am sticking to our simple routine for a couple of weeks at least.
Here’s a typical day in this past week.
7:24 am – My alarm goes off. I pull on sweat pants and stumble downstairs to make a cup of coffee. I have about 5 minutes to myself to scan my emails and take my morning pills with my coffee.
7:30 am – I wake up SG and hand her her itouch so she can watch youtube videos in bed while I continue to wake up. I return to my bed and read emails, see what news happened overnight, and check Facebook. I listen to the 10 minute Daf Yomi podcast and then get up to shower and get dressed. We are using this antibacterial soap that hospitals use and so we all smell rather unpleasant and we try to cover up the scent with regular Dial body wash and then perfume. 🙂
By 9:00 am – Time to begin our routine. SG is on antibiotics for strep throat, so she takes her medicine and then makes herself frozen pancake bites. Today our chore is vacuuming and cleaning the bathrooms upstairs. SG begs me to tackle the bathrooms if she does the vacuuming and she finally sees that it can be enjoyable to watch all the hair and dirt get sucked up into the vacuum, something I have been trying to convince her of for years. I put on gloves, wipe down faucets and mirrors and countertops and scrub toilets. 🙁 I am not having our housekeeper (who did not show up more times than she did anyway) come right now so we are doing the cleaning ourselves. I think it’s a great lesson for SG and I have noticed her starting to pick things up and put them where they belong, something she never did before.
10:00 am – We realized over the past week that I need some time to myself in order to keep my energy up. SG reads Harry Potter (she is immersed!) and I listen to one of my podcasts or do some writing. Sometimes we do this outside on our swings by the pool. Together but separate.
Today she doesn’t feel like reading so she quietly gathers crepe myrtle flowers that have dropped into our garden and takes about 200 pictures of them closeup. Thank goodness for digital.
11:00 am – We watch Greene Family Camp’s new Facebook Live programming.
11:30 am – We have lunch. Today is grilled cheese. We are really enjoying the griddle on our new stovetop. We use it for pancakes, sandwiches, eggs, and lots more. Today we got Mr. B to stop working and help us make and eat lunch.
12:00 pm – We got into the art room and watch McHarpor Manor on FB Live. They have a lesson each weekday and send out the supply list in advance. Today we made mini-dolls, which we put in our living room to see all the time.
1:00 pm – SG and I go in to our media room and watch some tv and work on a puzzle. (We have completed 3 so far.) Usually CoCo will join us and curl up for a nap if she doesn’t feel like eating our puzzle pieces.
1:30 pm – I start dinner in the crock pot. Tonight we will have sesame chicken.
2:00 pm – We have several choices for 2pm FB live shows so we alternate between Chris Field – Serial Disruptor, KHOU11 weather classroom, Companion Camp with the Houston Humane Society, the Cincinnati Zoo, and more. It’s good to have options. Today we watch the Houston Zoo give the elephants a bath and feed them.
2:45 pm – SG has a little academic time. Today she does an online math lesson. Also, our grocery order is being delivered by Instacart. They leave the bags on the porch and then I bring them inside, Clorox wipe all the food, put it all away, and clean the countertops. Again.
3:15 pm – We make chocolate chip cookies together. I do the dishes while SG spends time with a fun new photo/emoji app that seems pointless to me. She Facetimes friends too.
4:00 pm – Eat cookies and play Sorry and then Monopoly Deal.
4:30 pm – Quiet time. I catch up on an online class I’m taking and pay a couple of bills.
5:00 pm – Get the mail, open all and toss all recycling, wash hands. Deal with paperwork and wash hands again.
6:00 pm – Dinner, walk, game
7:30 pm – Reading, sleep, I catch up on news and read
