Quarantine, Week 2 | Finding The Positives
I can't help but wonder if this forced slowdown has a purpose. This sudden shift in normal life feels abrupt, hectic, and maybe even boring sometimes, but last week certain moments made me pause.
For the longest time, we ate very little at home and together as a family each week. Schedules rarely had us eating at the same time. On the weekends, we relied on Noodles, Chipotle, and Malone's for our meals. While in quarantine, I remember the value of eating together as a family. It's a time where we get our noses out of our phones and have an actual conversation. We ask questions like, "how are you doing?" or "what was the best part of your day?" Sometimes we tell Alexa to play our favorite tunes, and we start an impromptu dance party. These meals and moments have made my heart happy, and are teaching us to sit still and enjoy. Unless there is a dance party, then we're all groovin'.
Every day, the kiddos spend time outside in our backyard. Before this, I could count on one hand the number of times that happened in an entire summer. As I work from the dining room table with the patio door open, I can overhear their conversations. Their imaginations and creativity are incredible. They're exploring and digging in the dirt. They're just being kids, the way I remember being a kid. Outside. Riding bikes and scooters. Taking nightly family walks. Watching them play together outside last week nearly had me in tears. (I mean, the emotions lately are NO JOKE!) Together they were spies, and each day was a new mission. I have no doubt they were out saving the world.
Spending so much time together certainly brings its fair share of sibling battles. I've broken up more wrestling matches than I'd like to admit, and we're constantly reminding them of their school mantra, "be the nice kid!" But if you look past the bickering, there are glimmers of sibling support. Harper volunteers to read books to Emmett while I'm working. Emmett compliments Harper's art projects or the way she sets up legos. There are moments of sweetness that I should notice more, instead of remembering the conflicts.
There is no reason I should be complaining about the current situation. We still have our home, our family, plenty of food, income, and the resources and technology to stay in touch with our family, friends, and classmates.
As I scroll through social media, I'm seeing the different ways this pandemic is affecting lives. I see parents who are medical professionals who aren't getting this "forced family time." Instead, they're working longer hours than usual and risking their health.
I see teachers modifying lesson plans for distance learning with little time to prepare. Like all of us, they're quickly adapting to virtual meetings with their students and assigning homework through apps. But through it all, they keep a positive attitude and a giant smile our kiddos miss so much.
I see people losing loved ones. As they try to grieve and celebrate the life lost, they're doing it in their home while getting virtual support from family and friends.
This time is so strange and is affecting us all in such different ways. Sometimes I don't know how to react to the situation, or how to feel. I think that's okay. We all want to know how long will this last? The uncertainty is painful.
For now, my goal is to continue to celebrate the positives I may have missed before. What are your positives?
We hope you are well and staying safe.
The Helleen's
For the longest time, we ate very little at home and together as a family each week. Schedules rarely had us eating at the same time. On the weekends, we relied on Noodles, Chipotle, and Malone's for our meals. While in quarantine, I remember the value of eating together as a family. It's a time where we get our noses out of our phones and have an actual conversation. We ask questions like, "how are you doing?" or "what was the best part of your day?" Sometimes we tell Alexa to play our favorite tunes, and we start an impromptu dance party. These meals and moments have made my heart happy, and are teaching us to sit still and enjoy. Unless there is a dance party, then we're all groovin'.
Every day, the kiddos spend time outside in our backyard. Before this, I could count on one hand the number of times that happened in an entire summer. As I work from the dining room table with the patio door open, I can overhear their conversations. Their imaginations and creativity are incredible. They're exploring and digging in the dirt. They're just being kids, the way I remember being a kid. Outside. Riding bikes and scooters. Taking nightly family walks. Watching them play together outside last week nearly had me in tears. (I mean, the emotions lately are NO JOKE!) Together they were spies, and each day was a new mission. I have no doubt they were out saving the world.
Spending so much time together certainly brings its fair share of sibling battles. I've broken up more wrestling matches than I'd like to admit, and we're constantly reminding them of their school mantra, "be the nice kid!" But if you look past the bickering, there are glimmers of sibling support. Harper volunteers to read books to Emmett while I'm working. Emmett compliments Harper's art projects or the way she sets up legos. There are moments of sweetness that I should notice more, instead of remembering the conflicts.
There is no reason I should be complaining about the current situation. We still have our home, our family, plenty of food, income, and the resources and technology to stay in touch with our family, friends, and classmates.
As I scroll through social media, I'm seeing the different ways this pandemic is affecting lives. I see parents who are medical professionals who aren't getting this "forced family time." Instead, they're working longer hours than usual and risking their health.
I see teachers modifying lesson plans for distance learning with little time to prepare. Like all of us, they're quickly adapting to virtual meetings with their students and assigning homework through apps. But through it all, they keep a positive attitude and a giant smile our kiddos miss so much.
I see people losing loved ones. As they try to grieve and celebrate the life lost, they're doing it in their home while getting virtual support from family and friends.
This time is so strange and is affecting us all in such different ways. Sometimes I don't know how to react to the situation, or how to feel. I think that's okay. We all want to know how long will this last? The uncertainty is painful.
For now, my goal is to continue to celebrate the positives I may have missed before. What are your positives?
We hope you are well and staying safe.
The Helleen's
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