Domesticity, Family Matters, Life of Leisure (Bah!)

It’s Been Five Weeks

Today marks the five-week point since the day we tentatively pulled the girls out of school a couple days before Spring Break was set to start, and wondered if maybe we were over-reacting to the possible pandemic threat or if people thought we were nuts, but within two days of our decision, our provincial government was advising against travel and a short while after that the schools across the whole country were shut down and life has been on hold since then.

The past five weeks have been a real roller coaster for me…deep swoops of anxiety and fear, then loop-de-loops of gratitude, followed by unsettling ascents of uncertainty and then back to the start again.

Part of me is surprised by how little I’ve accomplished during this time of self-isolation. Yesterday I made soup. That was it. I mean, it was good. But as far as scratching things off the to-do list, it’s not very impressive. But the other part of me realizes that I am indeed juggling a lot, between all the day-to-day responsibilities of keeping the family fed and watered, and homeschooled (this is the one I hate the most) and running the house and trying to kind of keep myself from losing it.

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I thought there was a small chance I could take up a new hobby or at least tackle some extra organizational jobs on my list, but nope. NOT HAPPENING.

There have been a few new things I’ve taken up though:

  1. Counting my grey hairs. Now that I’m not able to get my roots bleached, and my natural colour is coming in with gusto, I am seeing a lot of tinsel in there.
  2. Popping my stress pimples. Bonus if one hits the mirror.
  3. Seeing how long I can go in between washing my hair. Record so far is six days. I’d like to thank the Academy.
  4. Crying in the fetal position while locked in my closet when I’m supposed to be helping the kids with their homeschooling
  5. Blogging. Who’d have thunk I’d ever be writing here so much again? Not me, that’s for sure. But it’s been a nice little distraction, a chance to focus and connect and search for giphs. Really important work. Feels good.

What has surprised you most about your time in self-isolation?

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4 Comments

  • I’m still working either behind locked doors or at home, so that has helped my mental state. If I was home all day, every day, without work to do, I would lose my ever-loving mind.

    You are doing amazing. Big hugs!

  • Soup is awesome!. Love reading about what you’ve been up to ??.
    One day at a time over here. I am in the kitchen so much more than usual… Pinterest wins and fails are happening here.

  • Going to work (at a seniors residence) has kept me in a sense of normalcy. It also help me with a bit of perspective as to how blessed we are…
    – to live in Canada (not Africa where most people don’t “get” this isolation and distancing)
    – to live in the Okanagan
    -to be able to step outside – in my back yard – anytime I want
    – for the sunshine we have had almost every day
    – to be able to pick up the phone or ZOOM with our family and friends anytime we want.
    The list goes on……….
    What makes me sad is to see older folks
    – have a spouse in long term care and not be able to see them before they die
    – have a loved one in Hospital or even Hospice and not be able to see them
    – have a spouse (mother, father,sister, brother, child) transferred from Hospital to long term care and not be allowed to be there to help them.
    All a part of my journey this week.
    God bless the Care Aids and front line workers that have to get up and go in and do for us what we can not do for our loved ones.
    This is a defining moment in history, a pivot point that we will always remember. Here’s to 2020!
    Be blessed!!

  • how much I like to draw but only using Quik Draw on House Party…. with Jack…. while he lays on the couch and I lay on the floor beside him :) He hates it but I LOVE IT! who would have thought? haha

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