How We’re Going To Do This…

If you would have asked me a week ago what I thought about those people who stock up for end of days and the zombie apocalypse, I would have called them nut jobs. Today, they all seem a bit more reasonable.

Seriously, who thought we would be HERE today? School canceled for the year. No practice, no games or tournaments, no orthodontist appointments and no rushing to do anything. It’s surreal.

Last night I started to panic. Our lives have come to a complete halt with no end in site. Everything that brings my family joy has been canceled or at the very least postponed. Even this morning I was near tears thinking about all of the things I can’t control right now. As a person who over plans everything… this is hard.

So I decided to make a plan. A plan of how we are going to do this. A plan to get through the days of social distancing, homeschooling and running out of toilet paper.

1. Stop Hoarding Food and Supplies (Just don’t do it)

Right now, we are not in danger of running out of anything. Trust the US supply chain, we are NOT out of food. “There is food being produced. There is food in warehouses,” said Julie Anna Potts, chief executive of the North American Meat Institute, a trade group for beef, pork and turkey packers and producers. “There is plenty of food in the country.”

It’s important to buy only what you need and not stockpile like it’s Armageddon.

2. Homeschooling (YIKES)

For all of us non-teachers, the thought of having to teach our kids, even with the assistance of the teachers working remotely, is scary. I don’t know common core math, I haven’t studied Spanish since college and I didn’t understand Algebra II even when I was taking it! Not to mention my youngest son has Dyslexia and relies so much on his tutor and intervention specialist to learn and progress.

The Today Show says the first step is to turn to your child’s school. “First things first, see if your teacher or school has learning packets or classes via Google classrooms or Zoom.”

For older kids in middle or high school check out Khan Academy for their video tutorials. (My friend Christa shared that great tip with me.)

Many states have suspended their state testing for the year. This is an opportunity for kids to enjoy learning and for teachers just to teach (even if it is remotely) without the pressures a standardized test places on everyone.

3. Manage Disappointment (Total Bummer)

Typically when we don’t have school our house is full of friends. There are sleepovers, pool parties, sports practices, games, tournaments and the doorbell ringing non stop with neighbors bouncing in and out of the house. I usually play tennis a few times a week and my husband golfs with friends a few days too. ALL of this has come to an abrupt and disappointing halt.

While nothing will console my daughter who is missing her best friend and the volleyball team they both play on, there are other things to look forward to. For the first time in years we have no schedule. Kids can stay in their PJs until noon, we have time to play board games in our practice-less evenings and eat together as a family.

After the novelty of not being in school wears off and the real boredom sets in it will be up to us to manage our family’s disappointment. The disappointment of missing sports, friends and special occasions will add up.

The CDC suggests several things we can all do to help ourselves through this time. “Remind yourself that you can reschedule some events. For those dates that cannot be moved, think about the future. The current situation may prevent you from being with your loved ones during a meaningful day, but you will be able to see them healthy for many years to come if you take precautions now.”

4. Together Time (#forcedfamilyfun)

We are all going to be home a lot. It is stressful for my family to all be together day after day with no school or work to break things up. For families who are trying to work and homeschool kids the stress will be even higher.

Take this time to watch some old home movies, do a puzzle, play board games and watch a Netflix series as a family. Have the kids keep a journal or draw pictures about what is going on so they can look back at it later.

It is also important to allow alone time. While we typically don’t like to have closed bedroom doors in our house, I think in small amounts it will be important to get through the quartine period.

Another good family project would be to foster an animal in need. Shelters and rescues are overflowing and will provide vet care and food/supplies to foster families. You just need to give time and love to the pet. The good news about fostering is when your foster pet finds their new family, there is always another pet waiting in the wings for your family’s time and love.

5. Stay Healthy (Duh!)

Breaking news… The most important thing to do right now is to stay healthy. Stay hydrated, keep washing your hands and try to stay as active as you can even while you don’t have access to a gym. It goes without saying that smoking and vaping is a huge no no with a virus going around that can attack the lungs (shocking).

The CDC website has several suggestions of ways to stay healthy. The best advice I read on the website was simple. “The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.” Seems simple enough to read, but we all know it’s easier said than done.

In all seriousness, most of us have never lived through a quarantine or remembers a time when schools and offices were shut down. I know when this is over I won’t take our freedom to do as we please each day for granted. I hope my kids won’t either.

I can’t plan for much right now. That takes me completely out of my comfort zone. That’s what it takes to make change happen though. With so many of us pushed past what is comfortable maybe that is what we needed to see past our own busy lives and to see the bigger pictue. Hopefully that is the only part of COVID-19 that sticks around.