A year ago today Andrew and I were at a Cincinnati Reds game. It was the coldest (I believe) first pitch ever, and I'm pretty sure the Reds lost. And to be honest, I had a blast.
As much as I had been a Reds fan, I hadn't been to a game in nearly eight years. Honestly, going there was just too much for my anxiety. I recognized it, and was happy to let Andrew take the kids at various times. Last year though, there was a family special, and when we realized that the kids couldn't go on a date that was offered, I decided it needed to be a date for Andrew and me. I had such a great time! We went to two more games during the course of the season. I realized a great deal of my anxiety before had been because the kids were little, and since they weren't little anymore that helped. I also recognize that certain anxiety-causing dynamics had left my daily life, and it just allows me to feel less anxiety about everything overall. It is such a wonderful memory I have! I know we will get to go again someday!
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Monday, March 30, 2020
No school the entire month of April
Our governor just announced during his daily press conference that there will be no school the entire month of April. Even though I knew it was coming, it was an announcement that made it all so very real. Catherine took the news pretty hard, because reality is that she isn't going back to school. My heart aches for her, but I also reminded her that she will get to say she had a senior year like none other! I'm proud of my kiddos for how they are handling all of this.
Spring break is "over"
Spring break is "done" in our house. I put it in quotes because of course, we aren't actually back in school. Online learning is happening again, but we can still sleep in and work on things in our time.
It definitely isn't the break I would've chosen, but honestly, I can't complain. The time together was fabulous. On Wednesday, Catherine and I watched Steel Magnolias curled up in her room while Andrew and Thomas watched a movie around the bonfire. We played euchre, Yahtzee, Sorry, and had wii bowling games. We had dinner together EVERY evening. We took some walks. We cleaned out our garage, which also allowed our ping pong table to be used. It isn't the break I would've chosen, but I can't complain about the break we had. Last evening, our "family time" was church. Our pastor sent out the readings and prayers, and then he recorded a message that we could watch at any time. I truly miss church, and I'm so grateful that he took the time to find a way for us to make it happen in our homes.
So here we are, at another Monday. The governor's original order would allow us to go back to school next week, but we all know that isn't happening. I hate what is happening in our world, and I won't deny that I have some fear. I am missing family members tremendously, and I especially hate that they can't see our kids. I am worried, but I am grateful. I am grateful for this time with my kids, and I pray for a safe and quick ending to all of this.
It definitely isn't the break I would've chosen, but honestly, I can't complain. The time together was fabulous. On Wednesday, Catherine and I watched Steel Magnolias curled up in her room while Andrew and Thomas watched a movie around the bonfire. We played euchre, Yahtzee, Sorry, and had wii bowling games. We had dinner together EVERY evening. We took some walks. We cleaned out our garage, which also allowed our ping pong table to be used. It isn't the break I would've chosen, but I can't complain about the break we had. Last evening, our "family time" was church. Our pastor sent out the readings and prayers, and then he recorded a message that we could watch at any time. I truly miss church, and I'm so grateful that he took the time to find a way for us to make it happen in our homes.
So here we are, at another Monday. The governor's original order would allow us to go back to school next week, but we all know that isn't happening. I hate what is happening in our world, and I won't deny that I have some fear. I am missing family members tremendously, and I especially hate that they can't see our kids. I am worried, but I am grateful. I am grateful for this time with my kids, and I pray for a safe and quick ending to all of this.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
It got to me last evening
Last evening, this entire experience really got to me. Not so much the staying home or the cancellation of events, but the not being able to see people. Today, we have to drive to my mother's house and put her trash out. There are some heavier items that she can't handle. Originally, we told her she had to stay in the house, but I said last night she could come into the garage, but just inside the garage from the house. We will be just inside the garage from the overhead door, so that should be enough distancing. I really couldn't imagine being there and not being able to actually talk to her.
Then I thought about my grandmother. She is 89, and I saw her three weeks ago before everything happened. I know it would be irresponsible of us to visit her, and but I thought maybe we could sit in our vehicle and ask her to come out to her porch. Even the thought of that made me emotional, but then I remembered we can't even really do that. Because she lives in a retirement community with a nursing home attached, they are only allowing residents and workers into the community itself. It made me cry. I know we will get through this, but it is a tough reality today.
Then I thought about my grandmother. She is 89, and I saw her three weeks ago before everything happened. I know it would be irresponsible of us to visit her, and but I thought maybe we could sit in our vehicle and ask her to come out to her porch. Even the thought of that made me emotional, but then I remembered we can't even really do that. Because she lives in a retirement community with a nursing home attached, they are only allowing residents and workers into the community itself. It made me cry. I know we will get through this, but it is a tough reality today.
Friday, March 27, 2020
Better news, and good-but-disappointing-to-us news
We ran out of milk today. There were also a few other things I hadn't been able to get at the grocery Monday, so I ran to the store in town today. I don't shop here for my regular shopping because it is more expensive generally, and doesn't have as much variety. I'm glad I went today though. With the exception of TP, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies, the store had everything you might want. On Monday, there was very little meat, very little boxed food, very little pet food. It was so calming to visit the store today that had plenty of almost everything. It was much more reassuring than the visit earlier in the week. We are still being very mindful of how/what we eat and how we use things, but I'm a little less freaked out about getting through this with supplies. The stores aren't crowded so it is easy to practice physical distancing. We wiped everything off before we brought it in the house.
I also tuned into the daily 2:00 press conference. Folks, if you don't live in Ohio you are truly missing out. Our Governor and Health Director are TOP NOTCH. They are informative, rational, and calm. I have never been more proud to be an Ohioan. They provided information that the Cleveland Clinic is now projecting the peak to be mid-May. This is good news overall in that it means we are flattening the curve, and that will save lives. That is very, very good news. The disappointing part of this is that I have a sweet girl scheduled to graduate towards the end of May. Moving the peak later, while great in terms of saving lives, is not great news for graduation. We all realize though, this is so much more important than her getting to walk across that stage. I am also confident that there WILL be something, it might just look different and it might be at a different time. Nothing official has been decided, and as I told a friend, there is nothing we can do about any of that so I refuse to obsess about it.
Not sure what our family activity will be this evening, but we will come up with something!
I also tuned into the daily 2:00 press conference. Folks, if you don't live in Ohio you are truly missing out. Our Governor and Health Director are TOP NOTCH. They are informative, rational, and calm. I have never been more proud to be an Ohioan. They provided information that the Cleveland Clinic is now projecting the peak to be mid-May. This is good news overall in that it means we are flattening the curve, and that will save lives. That is very, very good news. The disappointing part of this is that I have a sweet girl scheduled to graduate towards the end of May. Moving the peak later, while great in terms of saving lives, is not great news for graduation. We all realize though, this is so much more important than her getting to walk across that stage. I am also confident that there WILL be something, it might just look different and it might be at a different time. Nothing official has been decided, and as I told a friend, there is nothing we can do about any of that so I refuse to obsess about it.
Not sure what our family activity will be this evening, but we will come up with something!
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Two weeks of shut down
Two weeks ago was our last day of in-person school. Our state was allowing the next day and the following Monday, but our health department ordered us closed immediately. For many of us (adults and students) the lack of any in-person closure or farewell has been emotionally challenging. Not the end of the world, but we are fortunate enough that we are in a building where everyone truly cares about each other. FYI, in spite of what state legislatures and others try to say, I FIRMLY believe this is true in nearly every school building. That's not this post though.
Overall, our family has done really well. Honestly, we've had a lot of fun together. We've had board games and card games, movies and TV shows, family dinners, family walks...lots of togetherness time. Generally speaking, we are enjoying it. Have there been some shouts and tears? Yes. Is that to be expected? Of course! Overall though, we are getting along. I am enjoying the "no school" this week, but it's also not a bad things when the kids have a few things to do.
We've changed our perspective on many things. Our hearts hurt that we can't visit others, especially my mom, my grandmother, and my in-laws. We email and chat as much as we can though. We are using rags that can be washed rather than using paper towels. Our lunches are much more concentrated on using leftovers rather than opening new food. I am making sure to wash towels nearly every day, but I am also more aware of how much electricity I am using. These aren't bad things.
Overall, it will all be okay. I am so grateful for our little family, and I am grateful for technology that keeps us from being completely cut off from the rest of our family. We will get through this!
Overall, our family has done really well. Honestly, we've had a lot of fun together. We've had board games and card games, movies and TV shows, family dinners, family walks...lots of togetherness time. Generally speaking, we are enjoying it. Have there been some shouts and tears? Yes. Is that to be expected? Of course! Overall though, we are getting along. I am enjoying the "no school" this week, but it's also not a bad things when the kids have a few things to do.
We've changed our perspective on many things. Our hearts hurt that we can't visit others, especially my mom, my grandmother, and my in-laws. We email and chat as much as we can though. We are using rags that can be washed rather than using paper towels. Our lunches are much more concentrated on using leftovers rather than opening new food. I am making sure to wash towels nearly every day, but I am also more aware of how much electricity I am using. These aren't bad things.
Overall, it will all be okay. I am so grateful for our little family, and I am grateful for technology that keeps us from being completely cut off from the rest of our family. We will get through this!
Last year's Opening Day is better than nothing
Today is supposed to be Opening Day for the Reds. Of course, that isn't happening, and we are months away from even thinking about it. There is nothing like Opening Day in Cincinnati. Nothing at all. It means for months on end, there will be something to watch on TV. It means spring is arriving, and the school year is nearing an end. With it being spring break this week, I would've actually been able to watch everything on Opening Day.
This year of course, none of that is happening. We may or may not, depending on things, have a baseball season this year. I am optimistic that maybe we will, but I also know it isn't the most important thing this year. Fox Sports Ohio has decided that today, they will show last year's first game. It certainly isn't the same, and I obviously know how it ends. I know how the season went...it's all already happened...nothing new. But for today, this is still better than no baseball at all!
This year of course, none of that is happening. We may or may not, depending on things, have a baseball season this year. I am optimistic that maybe we will, but I also know it isn't the most important thing this year. Fox Sports Ohio has decided that today, they will show last year's first game. It certainly isn't the same, and I obviously know how it ends. I know how the season went...it's all already happened...nothing new. But for today, this is still better than no baseball at all!
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