Trouble
Days 8-14
We're settling in to a rhythm now. At the strong urging of preschool and a close friend who's a teacher, we established a schedule. I think maybe it helps me more than them, but it's working. It's also quelling the constant demands for snacks from a certain little girl. School closures were just extended to May 1 - and let's be honest, it's going to be through the spring! - so getting into a routine is really important for our sanity. In addition to the extended school closures, most of the country is now in "stay at home" mode and locally, our options are becoming more limited. As the virus continues to spread exponentially they are closing state parks and open spaces, now saying we can only move about for exercise within our own neighborhoods. Hospitals are limiting visitors such that women have to give birth alone and people even die alone. My dad, who is getting immunotherapy every few weeks, will have his first solo appointment this coming week. He's relied so heavily on my mom to be his advocate and voice when his own fails him, so this is a scary proposition.
Another thing that is dramatically different is grocery shopping. What an adventure! So far I've been out twice for groceries and we've had one delivery. It is IMPOSSIBLE to get a delivery slot and then the stores are out of half the things you need, so that's frustrating. Venturing out, though, is anxiety inducing. I went to my usual stops, Trader Joe's and Safeway on my first trip. At TJ's I was met with a line around the block! I wasn't mentally prepared for that so I skipped it and went to Safeway. Safeway did not have a line but it was a harrowing experience. People were not respecting social distancing guidance of six feet and it was crowded. Once I worked up the nerve to try TJ's again, I was pleasantly surprised. There's a line because the staff are stationed at the front door to allow only so many people inside at once. Today I waited 15 minutes or so and when I was invited inside I was offered liquid hand sanitizer or a wipe - thank you very much! Inside it was an oasis of calm. Everything was restocked (except the flour and rice), there was sufficient elbow room and a respect for proper distancing. I had brought my reusable bags but the checker was not allowed to fill them for me. I loaded up my own stuff and went on my way with almost everything I came for.
This time isn't without silver linings, though. I don't think our kids are one bit bothered by all of this. Wyatt loves being at home with us and Charleigh is happy as long as she's fed and entertained. Wyatt has started to play really well by himself in the last week. Charleigh even plays with him sometimes, without needing one of us! We've been playing family games, which has been such a blast! We got Hungry Hungry Hippo, Trouble, and Uno in the mail. The kids love HHH for obvious reasons, but I think Trouble has been the biggest hit. We've literally spent hours playing, hooting and hollering when someone gets a six or a one. Before, it seemed like there was never time for things like this. Weekdays were a race to bedtime and weekends were packed with swim lessons, play dates, birthday parties, and house projects. Now all we've got is time! One more silver lining - Charleigh learned to pedal! She was just pleased as punch. Wyatt is just on the cusp of learning to balance on his bike, too, I think.
Another dynamic that has improved is cooking. We used to find so much of our groceries went to waste, either because we didn't eat leftovers or because we had extra of something without a plan for what to do with it. Now that we're eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks a day at home, it's so much easier to throw a little bit of this or that into the pasta sauce or eat leftovers without feeling like you're eating the same dinner each night. It's been fun to have Wyatt more involved in grocery and meal planning, and he loves to cook with me, too. I knew this already but, again, we now have the gift of time.
We're settling in to a rhythm now. At the strong urging of preschool and a close friend who's a teacher, we established a schedule. I think maybe it helps me more than them, but it's working. It's also quelling the constant demands for snacks from a certain little girl. School closures were just extended to May 1 - and let's be honest, it's going to be through the spring! - so getting into a routine is really important for our sanity. In addition to the extended school closures, most of the country is now in "stay at home" mode and locally, our options are becoming more limited. As the virus continues to spread exponentially they are closing state parks and open spaces, now saying we can only move about for exercise within our own neighborhoods. Hospitals are limiting visitors such that women have to give birth alone and people even die alone. My dad, who is getting immunotherapy every few weeks, will have his first solo appointment this coming week. He's relied so heavily on my mom to be his advocate and voice when his own fails him, so this is a scary proposition.
Another thing that is dramatically different is grocery shopping. What an adventure! So far I've been out twice for groceries and we've had one delivery. It is IMPOSSIBLE to get a delivery slot and then the stores are out of half the things you need, so that's frustrating. Venturing out, though, is anxiety inducing. I went to my usual stops, Trader Joe's and Safeway on my first trip. At TJ's I was met with a line around the block! I wasn't mentally prepared for that so I skipped it and went to Safeway. Safeway did not have a line but it was a harrowing experience. People were not respecting social distancing guidance of six feet and it was crowded. Once I worked up the nerve to try TJ's again, I was pleasantly surprised. There's a line because the staff are stationed at the front door to allow only so many people inside at once. Today I waited 15 minutes or so and when I was invited inside I was offered liquid hand sanitizer or a wipe - thank you very much! Inside it was an oasis of calm. Everything was restocked (except the flour and rice), there was sufficient elbow room and a respect for proper distancing. I had brought my reusable bags but the checker was not allowed to fill them for me. I loaded up my own stuff and went on my way with almost everything I came for.
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| Wyatt picked this popsicle "recipe" from Pinterest |
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