Week One of Social Distancing

Quarantine.

Photo by Heather Ford on Unsplash

Well, my family officially started self-quarantining this week.

Actually, let me rephrase. We started social distancing—for the most part.

Unfortunately, my husband's job doesn't allow him to completely work from home. So he's had to go in and mingle with some other folks who have probably been right around COVID-19 at some point in the last week (but they can't stay home either).

So it's kind of a toss up as to whether we'll be first affected or later affected by COVID-19, but we're doing as much as we can to reduce our interactions with other folks.

This is truly a difficult time for the world, and I was reading a post this morning about how this could continue for 12 months. I don't think we'll possibly be able to self-quarantine for that long (though school has officially be canceled through all of April for us now), but I'm hoping that these actions we’re taking now can at least flatten the curve and reduce the rate of new infections to protect those most vulnerable.

It's definitely something that has been a lot on everyone's mind, so I wanted to share a couple of the things that have gotten us through this week.

1. Apple TV. 

LOL—only slightly joking here. I have two kids, one who just turned 6 years old this month, and a very active 2-year-old. So I know about kid's energy. And I know about weather being so bad that you can't get outside to play.

We've had the longest cold snap I can remember this winter, and I'm so grateful that this pandemic waited to really hit our area until our weather warmed up so the kids and I can get outside during the day. It's actually been above freezing lately, and that's been so nice. We still bundle up pretty well, but we can stay outside for an hour and not freeze to death!

2. Being deliberately grateful.

We can all sit inside and whine and complain or else we can get obsessed with how scary this is and how we don't want to stay inside.

OR we can choose to be grateful for the small part we can do by staying inside. It feels like an inaction, but it's actually an action we're consciously choosing to control as much of this pandemic as we can.

I try to find something every day to be grateful for, no matter how large or small. 

3. Being aware but not scared.

My daughter has an unexplained endocrine disorder where she can go dangerously hypoglycemic after a long fast (or after a big meal or a long nap). This week has been a hard one, as she's had low blood sugar several times throughout each day, not just after a prolonged fast. That makes it a bit more difficult to manage, but I've tried to prepare by stocking up on juice and emergency sugars for her, and also foods that she (usually) wants to eat—and have options.

If she gets this virus, I don't know what it would look like for her. We've avoided serious illnesses in her lifetime so far, including the flu, but this could hit hard for her. However, we can  focus on that, or we can take precautions against it.

We're doing our part by trying to limit those we interact with and protect her from this virus because of the unknowns.

4. Play games. Rediscover family time.

It sounds silly, but make this a time to really take advantage of a slower life. We don't have to run out to work or drop the kids off at school or soccer practice. We don't have any place to be. 

There's something freeing about that, isn't there? 

Get the family together for game night. Cook a home-cooked meal. Eat around the table. Make up stories as a family (everyone can tell one line). Laugh together. And, if need be, cry together.

5. Homeschool

This is the perfect time to teach your kid about what they want to learn. My 6-year-old wants to learn about cars (good thing his dad will be around more), and that's not something that he'd typically learn in kindergarten. But we can find videos and instructional booklets online to teach him what he's interested in.

We plan on doing some activities to keep him on track for his writing and reading, doing lots of drawing and painting and that kind of stuff. Take the time to learn with your kid and put down the phone and step away from the news for a little bit every day.

6. Get creative.

Seriously. With all this "extra" time, I know it feels like creativity can be stifled, but it's not. In fact, we have to get more creative just to phone in and work from home while the kids are around, or else to entertain kids and ourselves.

Write, draw, create.

Maybe it's alongside your child, maybe it's a project by yourself. But don't let your brain become idle. Maybe it's signing up for an online art class together or watching YouTube videos and learning to knit. (Just don't go to the story for supplies.)

Creating is another wonderful sense to rediscover your freedom.

7. Phone a friend or family member.

If you haven't talked to a friend in a while, make this the perfect time to do so!

I've caught up with several friends recently because of this virus, and I plan on contacting more soon. Make it a point to slow down and reconnect.

8. Read.

You knew this was going to be on my list, right? 

Work your way through your TBR bookshelf. (Digital or physical.) Or download a bunch of new books for your Kindle. Buy some audiobooks (become an Audible or Kobo audiobook subscriber) and listen to one while you're disinfecting the house. Get online with your library and the resources they offer and check out a bunch of new stuff.

While this pandemic spreads, Audible is offering audiobooks for kids free on their site.

9. Clean.

Yep. You've probably already been doing this, but take this time while you're home to clean the bathroom you've been meaning to clean, or dust those shelves or declutter that one room. I mean, after you've done your normal disinfecting you know. Or tackle the garage and maybe even a small house project—if you already have the supplies waiting for you to do it. And then get it done. 

10. Work without distractions.

Okay, this might not be possible for some of us, but since my husband is home more, I'm finding that even though I don't have the usual babysitting routine, I do have someone else to step in some times. He can take them outside for a half hour while I write, or I can take them out while he works. When you work in short bursts, you're actually more productive. So give each other a break where they can breathe and work without distraction, and then return the favor.

Regardless of how you choose to pass this time, we're all in this together. Stay safe, healthy, and spend this time with those you love the most. (And wash your hands!)