New normals

The weird just gets more weird. Yesterday was my middle daughter's birthday. Not as fun to turn 15 during a quarantine, but I hope we made it work. I ordered a pie from her favorite summer vacation spot. We picked up food from her favorite restaurant. It was eerie and strange driving downtown at the end of the work day and actually seeing parking spots everywhere. I don't think I've ever driven to that restaurant and been able to park right next to it.

We run the dishwasher all the time, and it's never for the same things. Sometimes we're out of bowls. Sometimes we're out of spoons. Once it was butter knives. But the whole day feels like unload the dishwasher, load the dishwasher, run the dishwasher, and repeat.

I don't really want to go inside places anymore, and I definitely don't want to touch things. Pre-quarantine I stocked up on my coffee creamer, but I opened the last one today. They only sell it at one grocery store. I'd rather not go there again right now. Online order pickup times are over a week out, so that feels unrealistic. I will likely brave Target again soon and just make due with some Other Creamer. I've been to Target once where I went inside, and they are in a constant state of sanitizing. So that feels ok. Except it broke my little Bullseye Heart not to browse, and just quickly grab things on my list.

It's strange to think that originally, the plan was to be back in school this week. BAHAHAHAHA. We are not even close. Now we wonder if the kids will go back to school at all this year. If graduation will be held in September. If prom will be in August. Everything is "indefinite." It's tough on the kids who like a plan.

All in all, I don't care at all about any of my inconveniences, as we start to see more of what medical professionals are dealing with now. Mercy. If me staying home and eating too many carbs helps even a little, I can do it. I mean, how is it that in the United States we are coming up with tutorials on making face shields from two liter soda bottles? Why on earth is that not something we can easily provide to healthcare workers without digging through our personal recycling?

The strangest part is that these things are starting to feel normal. What will we take into our lives from this when it's over?

So. Much.

Everything is kind of a lot right now. Our dog is recovering from TPLO surgery and needs to be kept calm, but also walked several times a day. It's "Spring" in Wisconsin, so it rained for two days and then we woke up to snow. We need to get things ready for kids to do school from home starting next week.

Can we talk about that for a second? Why is it everything I swear up and down I will NEVER do, I end up doing? Said I wouldn't have more kids, had a third. Said I wouldn't stay home with kids, staying home with kids. Now homeschooling? Seriously? The main reason I didn't ever want to homeschool is that I don't feel qualified. I suck at math. I'm also pretty sure I don't have the patience for this. Not that what I'll be doing is really homeschooling. The Actual Homeschoolers know that. I just have to make sure everybody gets their stuff done, and knows what they're doing. I don't have to plan it. Just facilitate it. But I never wanted to facilitate learning, either.

It's fun when you're having a year of upheaval already to throw a pandemic into it. Nevermind figuring out what you're going to do with your life - it's time to stay in your house until further notice! With EVERYONE.

The only thing I know for sure is that I need to write. It's how I process things, and I haven't been doing it for years. It feels AMAZING to be at it again.

Also, I am crazy blessed and lucky. I can take time to figure things out. I've got a healthy family, where our main concern would be being carriers of the virus to someone else. I have old kids. They get it. We were able to drop unexpected money to stock up for a bit. Brennan can work from home. We have what we need.

As long as the internet connection holds...

Weird

Well, this is weird. As a mom of three girls ages nine, 14, and 16, most of my life as of late has been driving kids to school, work, and activities. Scheduling appointments in between. Keeping track of everyone's schedule. I guess that's done for a while? I mean, since we're going to actually participate in the social distancing.

In some ways I'm relieved to have some time together at home. Some days the constant movement was overwhelming. Of course, my kids don't start school from home until Monday. No doubt my story will change then. Pre-calc! Yay! Speech therapy! I'm not trained!

One of the hardest things so far is answering questions of the nine year old. She likes a plan. A lot. Zoey is not a wing-it kind of kid. This is a TON of uncertainty. Not sure how long it will be. Not sure what school from home is going to look like. Not sure how long it is going to be until you can meet up with your friend in the park. Not sure when the library will be open again.

Or maybe the hardest thing is all the cancelled stuff for the kids. Concerts, competitions, games, etc. Things they had worked so hard for the last few months. A whole season of robotics prep - possibly done? A whole winterguard season - nevermind? The celebration concert of the show choir season with tributes to seniors - not in the near future. Prom - not cancelled yet, but... The third grade concert with Zoey's solo - nope.

Friends, I really hope we can use this time to get creative and adapt. I want to stay connected and do as much as possible online. Let's post videos of the kids doing their songs. Let's change the fundraisers to Facebook Live events or online auctions. Let's send each other things via Olde Fashioned Mail. Ask how you can support your small business owner friends. This is weird for everybody, but let's be leaders in Making it Work.