where flowers bloom, so does hope ~ lady bird johnson

Day 17.

This is really hard, being home with the boys working and schooling and keeping all of us busy and active.  I cant give 100% to my work, because I have to balance the boys.  I cant give 100% to their learning because I have to work.  I am making three meals a day, cleaning the kitchen three times a day, sweeping the floors every single day.  We are eating food faster than we normally would since we are home all the time.  Laundry is always never ending but I cant keep up, with Theo changing his clothes four times a day.  I've lost track of the dates and days. 

The peak of this virus isnt near yet.  They are anticipating two more weeks until peak.  I am losing sleep over the deaths.  Lives are being stolen because of this.  I dont want to blame China, but I do blame them.  Why didnt they listen to that doctor?  Why do they have to be so controlling and release information as they feel they need to?  Especially when its as serious as this.  This is impacting everything and everyone. 

On the flip side, I have organized the spice cabinet.  I cleaned and organized the pantry.  I organized and swept the garage.  I started the process to paint the window and door trim in my bedroom, Max's bedroom and the kitchen.  I pulled up a thousand crocus bulbs in the yard.  I finished a sweater, but ripped it out and have started again. 

I am on my third book since being home.  Max built a giant Lego set that he had.  Theo is drawing. 

Our garden seedlings are growing. 

Hope.

Life skills.

Max's teacher has been encouraging the kids in class to do things that they normally do not do, learn to cook, cut the grass, change a light bulb.  Life skills. 

And that is exactly what we have been doing around here.

I showed Max how to use the leaf blower, which turned into thirty minutes of the boys shooting sticks and leaves out of it or blowing each other's face off. 

Then they had a cooking lesson.  We made a lemon loaf for Ginga for his birthday.  Turned out okay. 

They are making their beds every day, a habit I was taught to do when I was growing up.  They are helping with laundry, but putting away their own clothes.  (i have to remind myself not to open the drawers!)

I am hoping this time home and doing the chores around the house, helping out will turn them into functioning well adjusted adults. 

Friday afternoon, our state governor announced a 'stay at home' policy to hopefully increase the amount of social distancing.  This is to slow the spread of the Coronavirus.  By that time Friday I was physically and mentally exhausted.  My manager called and advised I do what I need to for myself and the boys - whether that was go to the grocery store one last time, get gas, or whatever I needed. 

I have all these activities and websites written down for the boys, and I have a list of things to do around the house for me - paint the window trim, clean out the boys toys, finish knitting my sweater, etc. 

But instead, I printed out a coloring book from one of my favorite independent magazines, Taproot.  They were kind to offer this for free.  They know coloring is relaxing and engages the creative parts of the brain.  And so that is what I did on Friday night.  I colored.  Because I couldnt deal with all this. 

I wont lie, its getting to be a bit much.  Locked up in your house, the little news I do watch is not good, the boys are climbing the walls to no fault of their own.  I didnt accomplish anything I wanted to this weekend.  I'll give myself that break, be a little kind to myself. 

We did make it out for a walk on Sunday afternoon, but not without complaining.  I social distanced myself from their complaints.  As always, the fresh air helped.  We were in better moods when we got home. 

I'm currently binging on chocolate chips, drinking coffee in silence.  Well not total silence, the birds are up singing.  Makes my nature heart happy. 



We've been social distancing now for eight days, and homeschooling/working from home for four.  Yesterday we hit a boiling point.  Between work frustrations and the boys off their normal schedule, I am not surprised Max has a fat lip, courtesy of Theo.

Walgreens was the only place that had laundry detergent.  I made everyone go, though they stayed in the car.  I return to both boys crying and Max bleeding from his lip.  Theo punched him.  According to Max, for no reason.  According to Theo, Max was making fun.

I will side with Theo on this one, because Max has been blaming Theo for everything.  If the sun is in his eyes, its Theo's fault.  Cheerios on the floor under Max's seat, Theo.

I felt bad for Max, because Theo has an anger streak, that is triggered when Max teases him.  And its completely normal.  Siblings make fun of each other.  Siblings fight, verbally and physically.  This I know.  (sorry mom)

After my head popping off and spinning around 100 times, spewing out discipline, both boys spent a couple of hours in their room.  There went any kind of schooling for the afternoon.  I took a nap, to which I was woken from by the tape dispenser.  And voila, I have new wall paper.

I love it.  Its what we need.  Something cheerful, in this time of chaos.  I dont care its taped to the wall, instead of a cork board.  I dont care if it ruins the paint.  (not that it was a decent paint anyway, stupid cheap ass flipper.)  They used their imagination and creativity and I am celebrating that.

Thanks to my manager at work who said I should start a blog on the doings in our house during this weird time of national emergency-lock-down-social-distancing.  The first six days of the Social Distancing Project we were still going to school and work.  Life was still 'normal'.