My family has now been in social isolation since St. Patrick’s Day. 168 days since we’ve hugged anyone besides our nuclear unit, 168 days since my children have hung out with anyone but each other.
I was diagnosed with COPD last fall, along with a few other health issues, and only just saw the pulmonologist in person last week. We’ve been throwing different medications around trying to get my breathing stabilized, and although there’s been improvement, I still choke and cough enough to have been scolded by passersby last time I went out in public. It’s frustrating, it’s embarrassing, but it’s my life right now. I’ll just stay home until it’s figured out.
Don’t smoke, kids.
Regarding the Coronavirus, and the reality of the world today- life is unbelievably overwhelming at times. I know we can all agree on that. Everyone has a different spin on it, but the truth is we are all just living one day at a time right now. Literally, one. day. at. a. time.
And it’s exhausting.
When I think about the children’s experience through this time, I worry. A lot. No matter what each family chooses for their child- daycare, homeschool, distance learning, in-person learning- every parent has had to make the best choice within the boundaries of their resources, and there’s been no easy decisions.
I keep thinking about this lady who lived in my neighborhood where I grew up, and it was rumored that she had to be institutionalized because she was constantly washing her hands with bleach. I’m terrified that could someday be my son or daughter.
I know that our children will emerge with scars- that is inevitable. But the way I see it, if all the children learn this year are some healthy coping mechanisms, and a few life skills, then we have done our job for the 20/21 academic year. I won’t be raising the bar any higher than that in my house, and that applies to myself, too.
Looking ahead to continued isolation this winter, I intend this to be a season of healing for myself. I recently read a piece about how this winter will be a tough one, particularly regarding the upcoming election. No matter who wins, there will be a significant population of angry people in our country, just in time for flu season where we will likely face another severe quarantine. So I’m bracing myself for it now, and I invite you to do the same.
What makes you laugh? What brings you peace? How do you invest in yourself? The answers to all of these questions should be our priorities starting now, don’t wait. If there’s any positive to be had through this experience, let it be that we learned to love even more fiercely than before, and that we made the best damn lemonade out of these proverbial lemons.
The kids will come out alright.
xo