Though the pandemic parenting has been very, very, ultra, super hard....my kids have been coping like absolute gold-medal champions. Not sure if it's their ages (8, 6); their demeanor (go with the flow); and/or their lack of life experience thus far (so they're not knowing what they're missing out on?). But, all good things usually come to an end. I've been watching my kids come increasingly undone. And it's heartbreaking. Of course, they have been confused on what's happening, in … [Read more...] about Helpless, hopeless?
Like Being 15 again
One strange but true coping strategy I have for getting through this goddamned pandemic is to pretend I'm 15 years old again. I know that sounds strange. But hear me out. When I was 15, I was having a very tough summer. I was lonely. I didn't have many friends, having changed schools and lost my BFF in a friend breakup. I couldn't get a job yet, other than babysitting, and I lived in the sleepy burbs, so no way to get away from my parents like maybe a city kid. I didn't know how … [Read more...] about Like Being 15 again
57 days
As of today, it's been 57 days since I've been anywhere, except driving from my old place to my new place to move in. Fifty seven days. The last place I went was dropping my mom off at the airport for her to fly home. I keep asking myself shouldn't I feel...lonely? sad? worried? about the being only at home? And some moments, and some days, I do. But mostly I feel fine. And crushing, keeps-me-up-at-night guilt that I mostly feel fine about quarantine. Shouldn't I feel … [Read more...] about 57 days
Did I will this into existence?
As irrational as it sounds - and as irrational as it is - in the back of my mind, I keep wondering if this whole quarantine, shelter-in-place thing is somehow my fault. I know that sounds crazy. But hear me out. First, for years, I have struggled mightily with trying to work and parent simultaneously. The whole work like you don't have children and parent like you don't have a job thing. I've worked my ass off to have a career that is both intellectually fulfilling and steady (to the … [Read more...] about Did I will this into existence?
Our Family Calendar – April 2020
We have a family calendar we print and keep on the fridge. Yes, a paper calendar. If you don't have kids, you won't understand this, but kids don't have smart phones they can use to check what's happening on any given day. Heck, even my husband can't be bothered to check a shared google calendar, so... I prefer the DIY calendar you just print yourself, month by month, and fill out by hand, anyway. At the start of each new year, I'll print out each month, and fill in the little I do know - … [Read more...] about Our Family Calendar – April 2020