Things That Should Stick Around Post-Covid
Okay, I’ll admit it. I have been having a hard time with this COVID-19 stuff. My usual survival tactics haven’t worked to get me out of my funk. You know the ones: denial, delirious optimism, sleeping too much, long talks with besties, stress eating, etc. No matter what I tried, this quarantine got my extroverted self down in the dumps. I miss my friends, eating out, wearing lipstick, and concerts. Boy, do I miss summer concerts.
So, I am trying to switch perspectives here and give my negative attitude an about-face. There ARE a few things I hope stay around longer than this virus.
Indoor Activities Now Online or Outside
Back to school gets me excited, but I really dislike the long lines of middle school orientation. This year, my kids’ schools have opted for online orientation, and it’s a gift sent straight from heaven. No more long lines, confusing hallways or trying to hit the half an hour that falls in my kid’s alpha. We can pay fees, read handbooks, and sign up for lunch accounts from our home. Hallelujah.
Some schools have to limit graduation guests to two per family to fit in a large gymnasium. This year, so many schools had socially distant graduations on their football fields. Everyone could come and cheer on their graduate and no one had to wait in line five hours early to get a seat. For my friends’ sakes, I hope this is something that becomes a tradition so each graduate can have as large an entourage as he or she wants.
Rediscovering the Outdoors
It didn’t take a quarantine for our family to love the outdoors. Spring and summer are seasons we crave, and getting outside for baseball games, football camps, and hiking was not new to us. However, we have had way more time to fish, work out, and grill. My daughter’s two-wheeled bike riding has improved tremendously, and my sons are obsessed with fishing trips. The longer we are all supposed to stay away from humans, the more people I see at parks, playing outside and riding bikes with their kids. I have a feeling more memories are being made than usual, and that’s something that needs to stick around longer than this virus.
Family Dinners
I remember the hustle and bustle of February. I usually prefer us to be busy, but we were finishing two sports, acting and singing, and starting new activities during parent-teacher conference season. My household never had time for a sit-down meal with one another, and I missed us. Now, we’ve had way more time to prepare meals together, sit down and talk, and take our time while eating. Like I said in a previous post, my kids like to plan the meals, and they are each begging to do it again. Even though we’ve been locked in together, I love these people the most, and it’s been fun getting to know them again. I hope we still find time to eat together if COVID ever ends.
Appreciation for People
As humans, we always want what we can’t have. At the beginning of this mess, Americans really missed things like haircuts, movie theaters, and date nights out. I am no different. Never have I missed someone more than my beautiful friend who cuts my family’s hair. Movies aren’t the same without those amazing recliner seats where I can snuggle with my kids. I loved ordering in to support our local businesses, but I really missed sitting down with my hubs at a restaurant and reconnecting. It feels good to appreciate the people and places that have always been there for us. People need people. My day job is no different.
When I think about essential people in my life, my students are some of those people. As an educator, I have always appreciated seeing my students in person, but when I couldn’t check in with them, hear them complain about grammar, and help them get the most out of To Kill a Mockingbird in class, the magic of my profession just wasn’t there. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a joy to see their smiling faces on each Zoom call, but I missed their energy. I missed my people.
I know I’m not alone. The thing I hope sticks around after COVID the most is our appreciation for each other. People need people. Some more than others. (I’m raising my hand right now!) I hope we never forget how much we craved connection with other humans. I hope we never forget who risked their lives so our world could go on as uninterrupted as possible. I hope we never forget our essential people.