Our first quarantine weekend was good.
We FaceTimed friends Friday night. My office had an online Happy Hour. We blew up the air mattress and Nora got to watch a movie we actually purchased.
Last Saturday was some laundry and bathroom cleaning. We made cookies. I made a ClickList order for a Tuesday pickup – I had a hunch a lockdown was coming so I made sure to get ahead of the game. I was right.
Sunday I ran 3 miles after feeling anxiety and sadness creep up. By the end of the day we were all in a good mood.
We took a drive to nowhere just to feel like we were going anywhere. It was actually nice - we live on the edge of the greater Cincinnati metropolitan area, so we can dip into rural country very easily. Both girls fell asleep and it was actually nice.
Week 2 has been better-ish; our expectations are set (lower)... I’ve seen enough social chit chat telling parents to give themselves grace; at the end of the day, if the kids are happy, their mental health is more important than academics. I keep reminding myself that and I feel less tense.
The influx of worksheets, emails and links from the schools and therapists are a bit overwhelming; 26 so far since the schools closed on 3/16. All Hannah’s therapists are wanting to schedule video therapy for Hannah which is just adding to my stress of working and keeping the kids progressing.
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| Emails, emails, emails. |
Spring is here, flowers are out, everything is turning green - thank God this weather is now cooperating for our mental health and moods!
I wish I could pop out and get flowers but I’m staying back for the greater good!
The 2020 Pandemic has been sweeping from China to Europe and now the US.
As soon as governor Dewine announced Ohio schools would close for at least 3 weeks, my gut said to lock down in our home and limit our exposure out and about. I had an oil change on Saturday and Ailo had a checkup. We got a carryout pizza and that was about all for leaving the house.
It’s pretty astounding how much my view changed from when Governor Dewine announced Ohio schools closing (Thursday) to Sunday. Kids with DS - again - catch a lot and have a hard time shaking viruses.
Almost immediately, Moms on Facebook were clamoring for homeschool ideas. So of course I was swept up and felt the need to start getting ideas, too. Additionally, the girls’ teachers had links, files, and ideas too. I tried my best to compile and get ready.
I told my office on Sunday that I would be working from home for the foreseeable future - at that point I believe Ohio wanted groups of people under 100.
Monday came and I tried so hard to stick to the “schedule”... the girls weren’t always compliant. Additionally, having a kid with delayed development during this is double hard; I can’t send Hannah off with a worksheet; she needs 1-on-1 guidance for most tasks. Preschoolers learn through play. And you know what two parents who work 40 hours a week can’t do? Play.
Tim’s 1st week was busier than usual and thank heaven my week was lighter than normal, so I ended up spending a lot of time trying to keep the girls busy.
Monday night after my schedule fell apart, I cried. We had SUCH a routine and it’s dissolved. Knowing this lockdown will go on for a while, I’m sure we’ll get back to some type of “schedule” - loosely.
We had a good weekend and Week 2 of quarantine should be a touch better now that we have expectations and know we have to stay loose. Our girls just aren’t going to get super homeschooled and we have to give ourselves grace.
