Covid has been really challenging for our family. Here are ten things that have really helped us.
Everyone has to decide for themselves how much risk they are willing to accept. Our family has chosen to be rather conservative. We order 100% of our food and supplies, neither of us is working in an office and our kids are at home. We aren’t going to the gym or anywhere. The isolation and boredom is enough to drive anyone crazy. And we are struggling, but these things are helping us barely hold it all together.
And no the answer for us isn’t just to go outside. In the Pacific Northwest outdoor areas are very popular. The small trail by our house provides occasional opportunities for highly anxiety-provoking walks. Where we pass by other people about once every 45 seconds. Our small children shuffled to the edge of the pass, wiggling to run after the cute puppy. All while some maskless boomer decides it is the right time to compliment the kids’ Pikachu masks.
Believe it or not this isn’t something we can handle doing every day. Instead we can drive around and hope to find an empty field, but when we fail we get to tell our toddlers that they don’t get to play today. Oh and it took an hour to get them in the car in the first place, so well, most weeks we don’t leave the house at all.
But it’s not all without hope. Really we are very fortunate. We have enough indoor space for the kids to run around. And the resources to get all manner of food delivered. But these are the things that have helped us really survive.
(In order of importance)
1. Quiet Time
I go straight from work to helping with kids and my wife is trying to start a business while chasing the kids around almost 24/7. There are no breaks. So we made them. Everyday the kids have quiet time. They are allowed to use their tablets (we have two kid edition Fire tablets). They play quietly with their tablets in their own room. It is the only time they get to use them so it keeps their attention and we get a break. Since our kids don’t nap this is pure survival and hey sometimes they learn things.
2. Tutor School
We had our 4 year old enrolled in an online school but it wasn’t working. It was a lot of work for us and not sustainable. And instead of teaching turn taking they just kept muting our son. Eventually we had enough and withdrew him from the school. But we didn’t want him to lose the education he was getting. So we got a tutor for 1 on 1 online school, one hour each day. It is less expensive and he is learning so much more!
3. Date night
Not going anywhere is hard. No baby sitters no date nights, except we refused to accept that. Every Saturday night when the kids go to sleep, we dress up and have a nice meal right at home. We order food just for the two of us, we light candles and just take a moment to be adults. It is fantastic.
4. Exercise Equipment
Not exercising does something to one’s brain and stress levels and before Covid just living our lives involved walking all about, now that we are stuck inside, nada. Buying a treadmill has made a huge difference. We got a Nordic Track with programs that let you hike right from home, it is pretty great.
5. Video chats with friends and family
Although we can’t hang with our friends. Regular video chats is better than nothing. Playing social games like, Jackbox and Among Us has helped a lot.
6. Regularly scheduled activities
Having something to look forward to each week helps. I started playing video games with some of my friends every Friday evening. Erin started a bookclub with her east coast friends. Just having something on the books helps make time feel like it is flowing again.
7. Video games
I have greatly increased the amount of video games I play, I play with the kids. On my own, with my friends. Anything to keep the white walls from feeling like they are closing in.
8. Investment in working space
If you’re working from home. It is worth spending some money to make it better. In the office do you work on a 13 in laptop screen? Likely not. I bought a desk and two monitors. It was worth every penny. The desk is a sitting-standing desk, which is not necessary by any means but it’s nice. We spend so much time working, we deserve to make it nice. And it makes everything feel less like a prison.
9. Silly family parties and car trips
Get creative. We have had indoor beach parties and taken tours of the city from our car. I hope that in ten years, drinking smoothies in bathing suits is what my kids remember.
10. Weighted blankets and me time
We’re all struggling. Taking some to check in with oneself is important. If you need it try to make time for yourself. Early on we bought a weighted blanket for our 4 year old. And it was so nice we decided to get one for our queen bed.
This too shall come to pass. We will make it through this maybe even stronger than before.