Coming from someone who does not like to stay home, this is pretty much my worse nightmare, dealing with COVID-19. Yet, somehow it hasn’t been. Last week was supposed to be Finley’s spring break, so we were planning lots of fun events and activities, but we were also prepared to not be in school. What I wasn’t prepared for: to be a homeschooling mom, not to be able to take my kids anywhere, not to be able to go the gym, and suddenly concerned about future income. I spent last week doing lots of research preparing myself to be teaching Finley from home, and just enjoying my time at home with the kids. I am such a scheduled person, that last week has actually been very liberating for me. No schedule per se, no where to go, and actually forced to stay home has made me so much more relaxed and I’ve looked at the faces of my children and have so enjoyed all the small things. I know I’m only one week in, but I’ve chosen to look at this as a positive situation, one we’ll all remember and yes will be very affected by, but the time I’m getting to spend with my children is priceless and I’ll never forget the sweet moments we’re spending together and I’m feeling so blessed and lucky to be safe with my family. It’s also been liberating to try to find new things to do with the kids and also at home workouts-which I’ve NEVER wanted to do before. Think of all the money I’m going to save!
Fast forward to week two, day 8:
Foster decided she would throw three meltdown fits (18months, my son never did this) this morning. By today, day 9, I was really flustered. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be doing, can I go to the park, not go to the park, go outside, but my neighbors are outside which I love seeing and the kids love to play together, but this is bad too right? Am I supposed to go to a small boot camp and stay 6 feet away, or am I not supposed to? Let’s just say I’m in a super bad mood today. I don’t want to do this anymore! I’m super thankful I got to leave and actually got a coffee and just sit in my car. I tried to think of the things I was grateful for and man has that changed too! Thankful for: sitting in my car, running outside, coffee still available at the drive-thru. I had to remind myself to just take it a day at a time. Staying home all day with the kids is really hard for me, even if I’m going outside or the parks. I usually run a lot of errands, Finley goes to school three times a week, Foster usually just hangs with me even for coffee/brunch dates so we stay pretty busy. One day at a time.
Tips to get through Quarantine:
- get ready a few times a week even if you don’t have too-this has been huge for me. I’ve still done my self-tanner, hair and makeup. I feel better when I look better, right? Using this gel kit for my nails tonight!
- still get your workouts in if this is already something you do. I have pinned a lot of at home workouts on my board here. I love the bbg workouts, I’m running outside a lot, even with the kids in the stroller. Define has on demand videos that I’m going to start today too.
- lots of cooking and baking. Let your kids help you and read the recipes, do the steps and the measuring too. That’s math for them!
- keeping the kids busy-if you have children under 2.5 years like me, I know it’s so hard. Mine will not sit for 10 minutes to watch a show, you can’t leave them unattended, she colors for 5 seconds. I KNOW. But, I have lots of fun easy ideas I’ve done with my son here!
- Audible books-free for kids right now! I’m having Finley listen to all the Peter Rabbit stories while he plays alone in his room with his legos, and he’s loving it! On that note also, it’s great for your kids to have alone time, quiet time even if they aren’t napping. I am guilty of feeling like I have to always be in the rooms with my kids all the time. YOU DON’T!
- outside play-if you’re getting bored with your children toys outside think outside the box-chalk, washable paints, sprinkler, bins filled with beans or sand with treasures hidden inside. Can you take them on a trail and let them look for sticks and bugs? Go on a scavenger hunt. We’ve spent every day either at a park or at the trails and it’s been glorious exploring time!
- make a picnic lunch or dinner and head outside, or build a tent inside and have one? My kids love building tents.
- if you children are older maybe you can take out sleeping bags and let them have a slumber party, movie night, or sleep under a tent?
- do you have work outside that needs to be done-We cleaned my car half way yesterday! Pick up leaves, clean off all the pollen, clean cars, clean garages, get the kids in it.
- organize-I’ve gone through one closet and a few cabinets and cleaned those out already. Always feels good! Time to get rid of Winter clothes here too, so all the kids clothes and mine for cold weather went into bins.
- moms teaching children-don’t stress yourself out teaching a million things for hours a day. Do what you can and they will be fine. If you are reading with them, playing games, doing art they.will.be.fine. I’m doing about an hour a day of worksheets I’ve found here and then name writing, letters, crafts, coloring, flashcards, math with pretzel sticks etc.
