I’m going to tell you some observations that I have learned over the last week and half about being stuck at home:
- My kids need to go back to school. Now it’s not because they are fighting or I have to teach them a new way of math or they “are bored.” No no. I am finding that with them around we are blowing through 3/4 to 1 roll of toilet paper…A DAY (wish that was a joke). I have been living with at least one child in this house for 12 years. Turns out, I had no idea the paper product consumption that they have. Math?? I’ll teach that all day. How to use an appropriate amount of toilet paper in a sitting (no pun intended)? I’m completely lost.
- When you couple yesterday’s “snow storm” with COVID-19….you thought the grocery store panic was real without the snow? Shoulder to shoulder looking at empty meat cases and getting mad about it. Let’s be honest, we’ve known for the last week and a half that the meat case was empty. The Governor just put a lockdown on all business starting Tuesday at noon. Monday isn’t going to miraculously fill them, especially with the Nor-easter that rolled in.
- Back to my kids and toilet paper. (I just can’t let that go). How are we using a 5-8x multiplier on use when the three smallest people of our house are there? I’ve also subpoenaed them all to the Sedum District Court. “Not me.” “I only use 2 squares.” “Well I only use 1.” All are lying and let’s not get carried away – I’d rather a clean backside than going down to 1 square. Especially with being all in each other’s business for at least 2 more weeks.
You know what else I’ve observed? My son loves chess. He’s a thinker. I haven’t played since I was a kid (and I’ll use “played” very loosely). Day 1 – I smoked him (I haven’t learned the “let your kid win” philosophy). Two days later and a lot of reading up on strategy and he took me down in 10 moves. I was never a chess fan. Too slow usually. But I loved playing chess – thinking, talking through our thought processes – with my son.
We went on a family hike last Friday. Normally that’s like pulling teeth, especially on a weekend (because how could we have the audacity to interupt a FaceTime conversation or Minecraft game or trying to get together with friends). Two hours later and we had to TELL them it was time to turn around because we had to make dinner. “Just one more minute…” A family outing…seemed novel 2 hours before. Phenomenal experience 2 hours later.
Here’s the thing. My kids fight. I get short tempered. It’s not all “2 hour hike and chess outings” kind of days. But what I am being reminded of is the need to be around people. We have been more or less forced (whether by the government or personal decision or obligation to society) to be put in a world of isolation. I have a lot of anxieties about this whole thing – as a small business owner, as a family with 2 sets of grandparents, as a human being…But in my fears and anxiety I have been put in these moments where I have to stop and be around people and I get to…learn new things (like my kids use of TP), enjoy moments with family (that I seemingly “don’t have time for” – BS by the way), laugh with members of our gym (even if through Zoom).
Maybe being put in our current position can help us stop and remember our actual need for community. (Although I REALLY do hope I don’t need that reminder for too much longer). Here’s what I 100% know – your health is a priority. Physical – yes. But maybe even more so is your mental health – your connection with people. When we connect our batteries get recharged. You and I both know it, at least I know we all do deep down (even that cranky uncle needs to be around people in order to be cranky).
So what are you doing to stay connected? With the people in your house that you feel stuck with? With friends that you feel disconnected to? Jump on one of the Zoom virtual classes we are holding. They may be tough to hear or uncomfortable or you might be unsure of what to expect. But hey – killing 2 birds with 1 stone (physical and mental)! FaceTime a friend. Do a happy hour cheers. Set up a fire pit, set up chairs 6′ apart (keep the group to less than 10) and enjoy each other’s company.
Find your connection points – and hang on to them.