My Positives During COVID-19

This coronavirus has got me down. And I mean underneath the sewer that is below the street gutter down. I am an extrovert and adjusting to a new normal is not easy, especially when it means we have to stay away from gatherings and all the things we used to do regularly.

However, I pride myself on being able to find a silver lining in any situation. Here are some of my positives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chill Mornings and Calm Evenings

The best takeaway so far for me has been the disappearance of my family’s usual “hustle and rush”. During normal times, I have school day mornings down to a scheduled science as it pertains to wake-up calls, eating, face washing, teeth brushing, and pushing out the door. 

While my kids miss their friends on the bus and the games of tag that frequently happened at the bus stop, I am thankful for calm in the A.M. I have actually gotten to drink hot coffee with my breakfast of peanut butter toast. My kids wake up at their leisure because sleeping in is good for everyone’s immunity and my sanity. 

The evening meal time is also great right now because there is no race to get to sports practice or a music event. Usually every night of the week includes 1-3 activities, but not anymore. This means I don’t need to have a dinner plan already in the works by 4 pm. There have been a lot of days lately where I start making dinner around 6 pm and we eat close to 7 pm. It all works fine and even the table clean-up afterward is done at a slower pace with less bickering.

Going Old School

Another bonus to this social distancing is that my kids have to fight their own boredom. I know tons of educators and professionals who constantly tell me that children need to be bored to propel brain development. 

Jigsaw puzzles have been dug out of the back of the cupboard. Multiple games of UNO and UNO FLIP have been played. Sidewalk chalk, crossword puzzles, so many crafts, bike rides, and dog walks are taking place because my kids are bored and need to entertain themselves.

This is also good for me because I am not really a crafty person. Yet, I went for it with the stained glass painting of our front door for Easter. It is no Martha Stewart creation, but my kids enjoyed it. All we needed was: painter’s tape for design making. Then Crayola washable paint mixed with a drop of dish soap and a little water. Voila!

Re-Connecting

This pandemic has me and my husband checking on loved ones in a way we have never had to do before. Our extended families are tight, but in addition to touching base with our parents and siblings, we also make sure to reach out to aunts, uncles, distant friends, etc.

I call my grandma and my kids write her weekly letters. It gives her something to look forward to during the days that can be long and lonely. Letter writing has also evolved to my children learning how to address an envelope. 

I did a A Writer Inside Zoom meeting with Tessa and got to see a good friend who lives in Texas. My heart swelled when I saw her face and I did a happy dance in my chair that all Zoom members got to witness. Sorry fellow attendees! The write-in was great for me. I needed to see Tessa and other fellow writers who are continuing to work and get words down on paper during this crisis. We participated in prompt exercises and talked about the COVID-19 crisis. I ended that meeting feeling proud to be a writer and also rejuvenated. It was a much-needed meeting for me!

The days right now are long and scary. They are also full of hope and really genuine acts of kindness. Keep the calm. Keep engaging. And above all else, keep connecting with others.

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