I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on life lately. How six weeks ago tonight we went to our last social event (the wedding reception). Seems like we’ve been doing “stay at home” for much longer than that, and today I finally feel like I’m getting good at this new normal. We made it through Easter and it was great…but I’ve been struggling (like the rest of everyone) adjusting. Struggling to do this whole thing with grace and intention. It’s been harder than I think it ought to be (given all the advantages our family had going into it) but I’m getting there. Having our favorite things still happen (like Saturday night movies) puts the whole “needs vs. wants” conundrum into perspective. Soccer for Naomi and library dates are things I want. Snuggling with my babies and having a rhythm to our days and weeks is what I need.
Also I need clever memes about quarantines and the virus, because no other event in the history of humanity has turned out funnier memes. The ones about new home school teachers are my favorite.

I thought it would be good to document a bit about how we are quarantining…

I love doing church at home. For the first time and probably the last time…our church services start early. To say that I am savoring this aspect of quarantine conditions is an understatement. Naomi designs programs for us and we switch off weeks: one week Neil and I speak, and the other week all the kids prepare remarks. I’m finding it’s much like home schooling…all the vital aspects are covered and covered well in about half the time.

The kids have also provided some special musical numbers (Layna is singing tomorrow) and it’s been a very cool thing to have them all have a much more active part of our Sunday spiritual experience.

There were a few weeks break, but then we became experts at doing classes online. Garyn and Naomi are continuing with art classes, Naomi is doing virtual violin, and Layna loves speech with Miss Val. Corra is feeling a bit left out because she doesn’t have a “thing” to do online.

She has a chance to watch when her older siblings play Dungeons and Dragons with their friends a few times a week and that has helped.

We paint. A lot. The concrete pad outside is covered in chalk paint, water colors are broken out almost daily and there is now a teal dragon taped up in our stairway.

We play games. A lot. Naomi’s Harry Potter board game is a favorite and if we have enough time we break out Monopoly. For shorter time frame and more little girl involvement, we love “Sleeping Queens” or “Sorry”. Those are just the tip of the ice berg…other family favorites are Unstable Unicorns, Exploding Kittens, Tsuro, Yam Slam, and Chutes and Ladders.

Standing in line at Sam’s hoping to score toilet paper, or shopping at my favorite store for meat and seeing an empty case is not my favorite. I don’t want that…it makes the “reptile mom” part of my brain freak out and want to cry. No one needs that. Slight shifts in shopping habits and menu planning and adjustments of expectations are helping me calm that part down. She still freaks out occasionally so I let her put extra packages of bacon in the cart and I don’t even laugh at her. I am trying to have much more compassion for myself and those around me…because this whole thing is weird, no matter how good we have it. Neil and I are trying hard to roll with more drama and meltdowns and the kids are returning the favor.

Sometimes everyone gets a pass because we feel like this^^^. There is value in accepting that sometimes we just can’t even with this right now.