Week 1
What a week it has been. Yet, I feel like I have nothing to write. My experience is like just about everyone else I know. Last week was a bit emotional for me as I adjusted to the disappointment of cancelled activities and social time. I was most concerned about providing food for my family when I thought we weren't going to be allowed out or at the grocery store. I went to BJs to get milk and eggs and half the store was empty and it really freaked me out. I kept going back and forth between feeling queasy and stressed to feeling like things were going to be fine. The next day I really wanted to get some fresh fruit and vegetables and a few random things I needed and I was too nervous to go to Walmart and their grocery pick up was booked. So I prayed and asked for guidance as to where I could go to get what I needed. I ended up feeling good about Harris Teeter and even though it was busy, I was quick and got what I needed and got out of there feeling much calmer and more peaceful. There was plenty of food at the store and a weight lifted that I would be able to get what my family needed and we would be okay. We have lots of rice and beans and fruit snacks and crackers and pasta and such but I was most concerned about milk, eggs and fresh fruit. Not that we couldn't survive without them but life will be much happier if we can eat cereal, bake and stay healthy with fruit and vegetables.
I especially miss the gym, which I didn't expect, but I have really come to rely on that time to have a break from my motherly duties to just focus on me and being healthy. It makes me feel good and strong and happy with my body, even though it has changed very little since I started exercising. For me it is almost more mental, but my gym time is also social time because I go with a friend and exercise in a group. I really miss both. I have tried to do something small each day but it doesn't feel the same as pushing myself for an hour and being breathless and exhausted afterwards. We have played basketball, soccer, gone for walks, and bike rides. In fact the highlight of my whole week was when Curtis and I went for a bike ride last Thursday. It was so beautiful and sunny and it was fun to do something like that with just him. I love riding my bike and have ever since I was a little kid because it makes me feel free and alive for some reason. Yesterday it was raining but I needed to get out so I asked Curtis if he wanted to come with me on another bike ride and being the fun kid he is, he agreed. We got soaked and it was cold but I felt good afterwards and it was a fun adventure.
I also am sad that I can't go to book club tonight and I'm sad my girls can't go to their dance classes. They love dancing and Lily is just starting to feel comfortable on pointe and I am so excited for her show this year; I really hope it can still happen. Lily's costumes are all beautiful and the idea is so clever. It is the story of Madeline (from the children's books) and she is going to an art museum so the dances will each be a work of art brought to life. I think it is going to be beautiful and so I hope it all works out.
School I figure will work itself out. My kids are young enough that I'm not stressed about AP exams but old enough that they can read and work on stuff. They're all pretty smart too so missing a few weeks is certainly not the end of the world. Curtis had some pretty fun stuff planned this week with Maryland Day and a field trip and some other projects he was enjoying but he is also thrilled to have hours every day to just read up in his room. He has plowed through the Inheritance Cycle (the Eragon books) reading almost one a day. I am glad I went to the library right before everything shut down and also that we have a lot of great books to read. My kids have all spent a lot of time reading but especially Curtis.
Mostly everyone has gotten along and I haven't heard any complaining, except from one child. There have been a few moments where I wished I could send this one child somewhere far from me but for the most part, they have played well together and been pleasant to be around. Every day they have to get dressed, brush their teeth and make their bed. Then they have a cleaning job to do, then practice the piano and play outside for at least 30 minutes. Then the bigger kids have been doing some school work or online math games or whatever (I don't monitor them but just encourage them to do something intellectual each day). Some days they have played outside with one other friend down the street and then there has been some TV watching and family movie nights. We watched Cheaper by the Dozen and Freaky Friday and the kids thought they were hilarious. We've been playing games and yesterday got out some puzzles. Last Friday we went to Dorsey Park and took the trail through the woods, which was beautiful. We only saw one couple with their dog while on the walk and it was fun to be out. We also saw county employees putting in the new playground, which looks pretty cool. The kids have also been watching the Mo Willems lunch time doodles and Curtis and Emma have especially been loving them.
Josh has been encouraging the kids to make goals and work on things they normally don't have time to learn. Lily has been baking and practicing the clarinet, Emma is supposed to practice tying her shoes, Brandon is supposed to learn to ride his bike and Curtis's goal is to beat Josh at soccer during one of their lunch time games. We still haven't gotten out the play doh yet or used many of the online resources now available and they just played Wii for the first time today, so we still have some things to do. I had hoped to get some yard work done but I think now the nurseries and Lowes are probably closed so that will have to wait. So much of the stress of this situation is just wondering what tomorrow will be like. It will either be pretty much exactly the same or something crazy will happen and it will be drastically different. Right now I am grateful for my home, food, that Josh was able to find some work he can actually do from home, that my kids are healthy and safe and we're together. I've read a lot of WWII books and I can't help but think that this disruption is really annoying but certainly better than a war and being driven from my home or stuck on a train for weeks or starving or separated from my family. Life is good. Weird, but good.
I especially miss the gym, which I didn't expect, but I have really come to rely on that time to have a break from my motherly duties to just focus on me and being healthy. It makes me feel good and strong and happy with my body, even though it has changed very little since I started exercising. For me it is almost more mental, but my gym time is also social time because I go with a friend and exercise in a group. I really miss both. I have tried to do something small each day but it doesn't feel the same as pushing myself for an hour and being breathless and exhausted afterwards. We have played basketball, soccer, gone for walks, and bike rides. In fact the highlight of my whole week was when Curtis and I went for a bike ride last Thursday. It was so beautiful and sunny and it was fun to do something like that with just him. I love riding my bike and have ever since I was a little kid because it makes me feel free and alive for some reason. Yesterday it was raining but I needed to get out so I asked Curtis if he wanted to come with me on another bike ride and being the fun kid he is, he agreed. We got soaked and it was cold but I felt good afterwards and it was a fun adventure.
I also am sad that I can't go to book club tonight and I'm sad my girls can't go to their dance classes. They love dancing and Lily is just starting to feel comfortable on pointe and I am so excited for her show this year; I really hope it can still happen. Lily's costumes are all beautiful and the idea is so clever. It is the story of Madeline (from the children's books) and she is going to an art museum so the dances will each be a work of art brought to life. I think it is going to be beautiful and so I hope it all works out.School I figure will work itself out. My kids are young enough that I'm not stressed about AP exams but old enough that they can read and work on stuff. They're all pretty smart too so missing a few weeks is certainly not the end of the world. Curtis had some pretty fun stuff planned this week with Maryland Day and a field trip and some other projects he was enjoying but he is also thrilled to have hours every day to just read up in his room. He has plowed through the Inheritance Cycle (the Eragon books) reading almost one a day. I am glad I went to the library right before everything shut down and also that we have a lot of great books to read. My kids have all spent a lot of time reading but especially Curtis.
Mostly everyone has gotten along and I haven't heard any complaining, except from one child. There have been a few moments where I wished I could send this one child somewhere far from me but for the most part, they have played well together and been pleasant to be around. Every day they have to get dressed, brush their teeth and make their bed. Then they have a cleaning job to do, then practice the piano and play outside for at least 30 minutes. Then the bigger kids have been doing some school work or online math games or whatever (I don't monitor them but just encourage them to do something intellectual each day). Some days they have played outside with one other friend down the street and then there has been some TV watching and family movie nights. We watched Cheaper by the Dozen and Freaky Friday and the kids thought they were hilarious. We've been playing games and yesterday got out some puzzles. Last Friday we went to Dorsey Park and took the trail through the woods, which was beautiful. We only saw one couple with their dog while on the walk and it was fun to be out. We also saw county employees putting in the new playground, which looks pretty cool. The kids have also been watching the Mo Willems lunch time doodles and Curtis and Emma have especially been loving them.
Josh has been encouraging the kids to make goals and work on things they normally don't have time to learn. Lily has been baking and practicing the clarinet, Emma is supposed to practice tying her shoes, Brandon is supposed to learn to ride his bike and Curtis's goal is to beat Josh at soccer during one of their lunch time games. We still haven't gotten out the play doh yet or used many of the online resources now available and they just played Wii for the first time today, so we still have some things to do. I had hoped to get some yard work done but I think now the nurseries and Lowes are probably closed so that will have to wait. So much of the stress of this situation is just wondering what tomorrow will be like. It will either be pretty much exactly the same or something crazy will happen and it will be drastically different. Right now I am grateful for my home, food, that Josh was able to find some work he can actually do from home, that my kids are healthy and safe and we're together. I've read a lot of WWII books and I can't help but think that this disruption is really annoying but certainly better than a war and being driven from my home or stuck on a train for weeks or starving or separated from my family. Life is good. Weird, but good.
Comments
Post a Comment