2. Write about how you keep busy during a “quarantine.” Is your daily schedule affected much at all?
I love working from home so the current quartine and “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order that has been instated by the Washington State Governor has not impacted my typical daily schedule. We are so so SO lucky to be healthy right now and I am nervous about exposure, but since no one on my house is sick currently it honestly just feels like Summer with the kids home. This is their second full week out of school due to Covid19.
The most noticeable change I’m seeing in them is that typically they beg me to leave them alone. Laina and Kainoa have zero interest in going on hikes or finding things to do. Laina almost never makes plans to stay over at friends houses or even pop over for visits. However, as soon as staying home became an ORDER, they are suddenly begging to leave. They want to go for hikes, they want to go shopping, they want to go to friends houses…you name it. So that part has been annoying. I’m like, “you guys, this is your chance to finally sleep in and do nothing all day! It’s what you’ve been begging for ever since school started in September!”
That being said, I have seen an interesting change in the family dynamics now that we’re restricted to the house. Without sports and extracurricular activities to contend with, we have been eating at the dinner table again. I love this because it requires everyone to come out of their rooms or to set down their projects and come together for a bit. It’s so interesting to see how the conversation flows at the table in a way that it didn’t all day long when we’ve been preoccupied. We have also found some isolated parks and beaches that are not crowded with people and I’m hoping we might be able to sneak in some nature walks just to get them out of the house.
I’m keeping all of my fingers and toes crossed that we stay healthy, although I’m just not sure I can see an end to this virus. How long will this quarantine last? What will the long-lasting effects on our economy be? Is it inevitable that we will all eventually get sick? Can you get sick from this virus multiple times? Harper’s mom is my niece and she was positively diagnosed with Covid19 more than two weeks ago. She is incredibly sick and has been isolated in her bedroom this entire time. Fever, aches, congestion, cough, you name it. She’s struggled with it. It is not just a run-in with the regular flu, it’s so scary. We have been relieved to see a break in her fever a few times, but then it will come back. She has not gone 72 hours fever free. This is not a virus any of us want. I’m so glad preventative measures have been taken to keep people home, but this has been absolutely crazy to watch unfold.
Stay healthy!
Patty says
I like that family dynamics have changed for so many, and for the positive. We all need to pull-together and get through this, even though being home-bound has its downside at times.
Everything that’s in place which enables our children to keep learning, wonderful! Just think, what if there was no Internet or if there was some type of massive satellite shutdown for communication? We can go out, make necessary trips to the market, even go for a car ride on a beautiful day or, like you and your family, spend some precious time on a local beach.
My thoughts and prayers are with Harper’s mom…and with everyone diagnosed with COVID-19.
All I can keep saying is that…we WILL get through this!
Mama Kat says
You’re right, we WILL get through this!! We’ve definitely been going for walks and try to get some fresh air when we can. Our schools also serve lunch free to pick up in the afternoon, so that gives us a nice excuse to get out. Harper’s mom seems to be doing better!
madamdreamweaver says
It’s funny—the minute someone says you can’t go here, you want to go oh-so-badly. I’m irked to be told I can go here or there. People get cabin fever when cooped up. This isn’t as bad as a Hurricane, because you can at least go outside. When we’ve been walking we seen many people out strolling with their kids or riding bikes or also walking. This is a country town like environment.
The virus will end. The thing will peak then the curve will flatten out just like it did in China. France announced a successful treatment combining the malaria drug with a Z-pak antibiotic. US is testing it now. (Z-pak is a 5 day antibiotic.)
Mama Kat says
Oh man, if they could come up with a solution that would be fantastic! Get these kids back in school, give folks their jobs back and let’s rebuild!
John Holton says
I feel badly for your niece and will keep her in my prayers. Harper needs her mom… is she still coming to your house during all of this?
Whether it ends sooner or later is the question. What we know is that it will end. We got out a little bit today, but I never got out of the car. Mary got out to get a couple of things at the store, though she went through the self-checkout.
Hang in there!
Mama Kat says
Harper has not been coming over. When her mom had the postive test for coronavirus Harper and my sister had to isolate together for 14 days to see if they had also contracted it. Harper’s mom and my sister were both permitted to leave (in fact their offices closed completely) and my sister has been taking care of Harper full time upstairs in their house while Harper’s mom battles the virus downstairs. She DID go in for another test to see if she was virus-free and the test resulted in her favor! Strangely, she’s still struggling with fever and stomach issues so we’re waiting for her body to turn that final corner and heal completely!
I’ve been doing self check out too if I have to go in. I bring my winter gloves too just for that extra layer of protection. Stay healthy!!
Abby says
Sorry about your niece and hoping she’s on the mend!
I notice I appreciate a lot of things I’d taken for granted. My kids aren’t home with us, but we check in with each other often – moreso than BC, before corona.
Mama Kat says
My niece is on the mend! Hoping for a full recovery soon. :) And I totally agree, I definitely take some things for granted. I didn’t realize how much I depended on outside destinations to keep my kids entertained!
Lori says
Oh, I hope your niece gets better soon. How scary! My life has changed very little because my husband and I both work at home and are homebodies anyway. Just no more jaunts out to the store and we order groceries online. I miss outings with my sister though and having my grown girls come over for a game of cards. My daughter was laid off but got another job in a grocery store fairly quick, so that’s a blessing. I hope you and the fam stay healthy and safe.
Mama Kat says
The grocery stores are hiring like crazy and I think delivery like Uber Eats is a good one to check out too! It’s so sad to see many being impacted financially by this. I’m like you, no problem staying home for the most part!