The week of March 9, I remember teachers posting things like, "This week we have 1/2 day, a full moon, and Friday the 13th! Prepare yourself!" No one knew the week would end the way it did. I sat in a Staff Meeting that Wednesday and my principal was like, "the first confirmed case of Corona Virus in Michigan was just announced. We need to prepare ourselves." We thought it meant things like lunches in the classrooms and maybe a few more sick days.
Already it had been weird. I went to Sam's Club the Friday before and I felt like people were preparing for the end of days. I called Chris and told him how weird it was, and how people were buying pallets of water and 10 pound bags of rice. Thankfully, I bought 2 huge packs of toilet paper, paper towel, and diapers. I also grabbed disinfecting wipes and bleach spray. I'm so glad that I did that now!
That Wednesday I took Teddy and Juliet to Petco and Target, and it was such a weird feeling in the air. I bought a bunch of Peanut Butter and cereal from Target, because I thought if the Apocalypse really came, that would sustain us! We stopped at Bath and Body Works and the clerk told me there was a line beginning at 12:00 for a 3:00 shipment of hand sanitzer. They sold out before they got through 1/2 the line. By Thursday, everyone was completely freaked out.
Late Thursday night they announced school would close for 3 weeks. We spent the last day running around like crazy people trying to prepare ourselves. We had no idea we wouldn't be back for the year. It's all so sad and so surreal. We sent Leah to dance that Friday, with the message that she would be done after that for the foreseeable future due to the social distancing guidelines. Dance had planned on continuing on. On a group chat, it was interesting that several of the moms thought the entire thing was overblown and they intended on continuing to send their daughters. It didn't end up mattering, anyway, as dance was cancelled on Saturday.
We had one last extended family dinner that Saturday (thanks, Nicole!), and then basically completely self-quarantined as a family (minus once weekly grocery trips, where only I go and Chris disinfects everything before putting away and occasional porch drop offs and real estate stalking). I keep telling Chris that I am so glad I love everyone in this house so fiercely. I can't image being with anyone else.
It took about a week for us to get in a groove. Chris works regular hours from home (about 9-11 hours depending on the day). Our house isn't huge and it's stressful when I know he's trying to concentrate or when he's on a call, even though he's pretty good natured and can handle a good bit of chaos around him most of the time. The first week tested us all. Trying to keep them reasonably quiet, keeping the TV off for most the day, trying to home school, enrich Teddy, trying to go to my own "virtual staff meetings", trying to "teach" students via email...all very stressful. The girls bickered and fought and it was trying. After a week, we are in a groove. It's not all smooth sailing, but our days are largely predictable and everyone is happy. It's funny how quickly the kids adjusted. They just accept the reality of our new lives. That said, we are devastated about missing out on Cozumel. We were so looking forward to that trip. Teddy also doesn't completely understand what is going on. He stands by the car and whines. When I take them somewhere, they don't get out of the car (like to drop something off to someone). When we get home, Teddy is always confused and annoyed that we didn't actually go anywhere.
The girls have started playing in the woods. We let them go back by themselves and they build forts and bridges. They notice wild life and plants beginning to grow. Chris and I both enjoyed playing in the woods as kids, and it's sweet to see them do the same. They head back most days with cinch bags filled with supplies. We both notice that they get along much better the days when they are able to play in the woods. I think there's a lot to learn from these type of unstructured, free range activities. I also LOVE that there is no mess to clean up!
We use our outside toys as much as possible. Teddy is SO STRONG and can hang for a good while on the monkey bars. We bought a glider swing, and both girls love gliding and reading on it. It was a great quarantine purchase. Now it's so odd to shop on Amazon. Almost everything there is by a 3rd party seller. I tried ordering Teddy some toys for his birthday--4 weeks in advance knowing there would likely be delays--and the toys aren't currently due to be here until AFTER his birthday. Amazon stuff used to be here the next day, and now it takes at least a week. It feels so weird to online shop now.
Mr. Merritt has been giving some science lessons with kits that Leah got a few years ago for her birthday. They both really enjoy it!
In the past 3 weeks, we've made cupcakes, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, and countless batches of energy balls. The girls make requests for dinners and help cook and set the table. We've enjoyed eating EVERY meal as a family. Of course Chris and I worry about our jobs, what the world will look like when this is done, our health and the health of those we love, and so on. But there's also a great deal of joy in our everyday days. We love hanging out each night. I love drinking wine and relaxing on the couch with him. The girls LOVE the loosened rules with the Kindle and their newfound access to Facebook Messenger Kids. It's sweet to watch them go off on their "conference calls". It's nice that Chris doesn't have to commute each day.
The stores are so weird. The first week I went to the grocery store, there were still kids at the stores. I've been to Buches 4 times now--I only shop there because I think it has lower traffic than the other stores--and it went from no one wearing a mask to 85% of people wearing masks (including me). I haven't seen a kid at a store in over 2 weeks. One week I went to Bushes and Target. That seems crazy dangerous now. 2 stores?!
Teddy LOVES digging in the mulch. Chris and I found a house we were pretty interested in the day before the world ended. We are trying to use this time to clean up and clean out our house as much as possible (not easy!). But we are making progress!
