Life. In the time of Corona… (part 1)
Well, the Fox family is now 29 days in. I have left the house 3 times to pick up essentials. My kids have been at home from school for a month. We have adjusted. It has been an experience to say the least. I’ve found myself in a very strange headspace. Floating between optimism, sadness, anxiousness, and indifference. This is a unique experience for everyone. Each of my kiddos are processing things in very different ways. I have been asking them almost weekly what their feelings are towards the Corona virus and to our current situation. In week one the boy said something that really struck me. It was about day 3 or 4 of staying at home and he rolled out of bed one morning and said: “you know, I could really get used to this.” At first I was aghast. I was thinking “CHILD! People are DYING!!! How on earth could you be okay with this???” But I stayed silent and listened. And then he said something that made perfect sense. Anyone who knows Dylan knows he enjoys his home time. He’s a pretty busy kid with ice racing and school sports and other activities, so when he gets an opportunity to just hang out at home, he really loves it. Dylan looked at me and said: “Well mom, what I mean is I don’t have to go to school, I get to stay home. I am young and strong and healthy. Even if I caught the Corona virus, I think I would be okay. But if I am staying at home, the chances of me catching it and spreading it to someone who could get really sick, like Grandma and Grandpa, is pretty slim.” He showed me that he has a healthy respect for and understanding of the virus from a child’s perspective. But most importantly he showed me that he is not afraid. And if he is not afraid, then his little sis is less likely to be afraid. This is HUGE! I want my children to feel safe. The last thing I want for them to feel is fear or worry. That is not their job. That can rest with me and I can in turn give it to God.
Now Beaner on the other hand HATES this virus with the burning heat of a thousand suns (which should be enough heat to adequately destroy the virus… along with everything else). She is a social creature and has been missing friends and family. She is missing school and acting class (although now she has the opportunity to do that one online). She is not alone. A lot of us can empathize with her right now. During the second weekend of lockdown, the weather was really beautiful. Everyone was out enjoying the weather (maintaining a safe social distance). Many of the neighbourhood kids were out on bikes and she asked if she and her brother could go as well. I reluctantly agreed that the two of them could ride around the block but that if they approached others they should cross to the other side of the street and maintain social distance. Well… we all know how things can go with kids. Kids drove past one another waving and saying hello… then kids stopped to play in the puddles. Then kids started splashing each other, and then tagging one another. They were gearing up to have a lot of fun! Under any other circumstances this would have been a beautiful scenario. But at this particular time it was not. I asked my kids to come back home to our yard. Beaner raced home with a big grin on her face and asked if she could jump on the trampoline with her friend. She promised me they would keep their distance and stay on opposite sides of the trampoline. I told her no and again explained why it was important for us to stay home and stay away from others. She tried a different angle. “Can we just sit together on the trampoline and bounce?” Again, my response stayed the same. She begged and pleaded with me. I sat her down and said “Hun, I am really sorry. I know how hard this is. And I don’t make these rules. These rules are coming from our doctors and nurses who are working so hard to help the sick people. These rules are coming from our Prime Minister. He tells every Canadian citizen the same thing every. single. day. I want to keep you and your friends safe. I want our friends parents and grandparents to be safe too. This is why I can’t allow play dates right now.” I watched as this information sunk in. Like really sunk in. And then, I watched the moment of understanding wash over her face. And lastly, I watched her little heart break as she took in the enormity of what was being asked of her. She put on a brave face while I hugged her but I could feel every part of her little frame crumble as she quietly sobbed into my shoulder. Sometimes being a child is hard. Sometimes being a parent is HARD.
About two weeks in I decided it was time to pick up my camera again and start documenting little snippets of our day to day activities around the home. We are after all, living through history. Here is a look at our life right now in snapshots. Lots of food, lots of fur, lots of ‘school work’ and lots of love, laughter and a little bit of crazy! Oh, and clothing is optional but pyjamas are encouraged!
I don’t want to minimize anyone’s struggle right now. I know this time is fraught with difficulties, and worries for so many of us. I know I am insanely blessed to have things run as smoothly in my home as they do. Don’t get me wrong though, we definitely have our share of tears, and frustration. But at the end of the day when I lay down and drift into an exhausted sleep, I know that I have my most important people safe under one roof and that is what matters the most.
As always, thanks for reading and God bless!