How are things in your neck of the woods, readers? Are you staying at home? Are you on the front lines and going to work?
Are you surviving?
The past few days have been rough in terms of a stay at home order. I needed an escape today and realized I had to be my own barista to concoct my own special brew of white chocolate mocha. I had a fussy, teething, ten-month-old, work to do, and no motivation at all.
Are you with me? It was a rough day (in fact, so was the day before).
I started thinking, in between the feverish cries for help and comfort from the wee one, “I am spoiled.” And then I started thinking, “I am lucky.”
I was mad at myself for being annoyed I couldn’t hop in the car and go get a coffee when I had a perfectly good coffee pot and sugar and creamer in my own home.
I was mad that I let something so small get to me, and something that I can control make me annoyed. I had to change the situation. I had to survive the day with my own cup of coffee (in one of my favorite mugs) and get on with it.
But I couldn’t help but think…”how are others surviving?”
As if a pandemic was needed to cause more anxiety and stress in our home, we have been doing our best to find a normal routine. Whatever normal may be. We have been doing our best to laugh when we may want to cry or scream, we have been socially isolating when we really want to get out and go see my parents. We have been doing our best with what we have, and that is surviving.
So, how does this virus affect us in our family? Well, to be honest, we are pretty good at social distancing when we need to–just ask Sam, who battles isolation from time to time. We know when we need to interact with others, and we know when we need a break. So, while it stinks to not go grab that cup of coffee or make a few laps around Target, we know we have to stay home. #StayHome #StaySafe
Another way we feel prepared is that we are stocked with the supplies we need to get through. Does that mean we’ve hoarded toilet paper or gone too far picking up food and water? No. We planned out our meals and grocery list just like we would any other week. We may have picked up a few extra meals and a few snacks, but we feel prepared in that we have enough food to feed our families for several weeks, and we don’t need to go to the store unless we absolutely have to go.
Caregivers can manage a variety of situations at any given time. So, this should be no different right?
Well, add in that there might be an adult (or two) working from home, kids moving to e-learning, no softball, no friends over for playdates or sleepovers, and no visiting the at-risk grandparents, and things get really interesting.
The situation becomes heightened. Feelings and tension are rising–things might dare I even type, seem boring. We adapt to a new way of survival.
Technology can be good and bad. We’ve explored a variety of virtual tours and we’ve explored a variety of TikTok videos.
One of the biggest ways I am surviving my days is to stay connected. I find time to chat with friends via text, phone, and Marco Polo (it is an app, and it is delightful). Another way I want to stay connected is to schedule a coffee date with some friends virtually.
And if you have had a loved one in the military, you know how those technological moments can really make you feel connected.
So, while we try and socially distance ourselves, we also thrive on connection and communication as a means to survive in our house.
Maybe your means of survival have changed a bit. Maybe your routine is out of whack or still a bit unknown. I promise this won’t last forever. I promise you can hug again and you can go to Target again…but for now, we wait.
We find a way to survive.
