Our Covid-19 Avoiding Journey

Over the past weekend, many parents across the country got the news their children's schools were finally closing for an undisclosed period of time. The school my kids go to was one of them.

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to make it to both Walmart and the school. Of course the paper goods were decimated, soap was awol, but most frustrating to me was the baby section. Not one single pack of wipes on the shelf. This presents a multitude of problems. One, my 16 month old is starting to run low, and I don't know how many old t-shirts I have that I can sacrifice as emergency washable baby wipes. Two, how many people still assume it's ok to flush wipes? A quick Google search, or even 2 minutes talking with a qualified plumber, reveals it is NOT, despite many companies claims that their wipes will break down. For a more in depth look on the subject, check out Adam Ruins Everything - Why Flushable Wipes Aren't Flushable, on YouTube. You'll question everything you've ever put down a toilet or sink before. And three, how many other parents or caregivers are up the proverbial creek without a paddle? It's not just baby bottoms that need those wipes, there's elderly and disabled people who need them too. Be considerate, if you don't need baby wipes don't buy them, and if you do, remember to be considerate of others and their need for them too.

Stopping by the school was necessary, library books had to be returned, and we're fortunate enough to live in a district where each of the elementary school students has a Google Chromebook assigned to them. We're getting to explore online homeschooling together. As of today there isn't a whole lot going on with it, since the decision was only made 4 days ago, but there's a lot of communication going on through the Class Dojo app. We're very fortunate to have resources such as this available to us, I can't imagine trying to make it through packets and packets of school work, trying to figure out the new ways kids are taught math. Add in that I have 3 school age kids, and a toddler to keep up with, I'm in over my head already, so that just increases my gratitude for the Chromebooks and Google Classroom.

Having their core classes covered is really wonderful, but many parents are stuck having to figure out how to continue to support their kids other classes like music and Phys. Ed. This is where the beauty of the internet really shines. Travel and Leisure has recently released a few articles about national parks, museums, and the Metropolitan Opera giving virtual tours and shows to encourage people to stay home and to keep them entertained with something besides Netflix. I'm looking forward to checking out one of these national parks tours tonight, and snagging some additional info on wildlife to go over with my kids tomorrow while their little sister is napping, it's not exactly a major Biology lesson but since we can't exactly take a field trip, this is the best we've got.

YouTube once again will prove useful when it comes to covering Phys. Ed., between beginners yoga routines and even kids dance choreography videos there is no shortage of ways to get them moving, and burning off that nearly endless supply of energy they have, that they can no longer really go run off outside with their friends in order to keep them all safer. We are planning on trying to take a walk together once a week at least, once their dad is home from work (Electrician isn't exactly a job you can do from home) and can stay with the toddler, and taking the dog along with us, but there is no way we're going to any park or going inside any businesses while we're out. No stopping by friends' houses, no playgrounds, and using the bathroom before we leave because there is no way we're going in a porta potty. Social distancing doesn't have to mean being locked up inside all day; if you have a healthy immune system and have minimal to zero contact with immunocompromised people, and continue to take the necessary precautions, you can take a walk by yourself or with other people you live with, and everyone still stays safe.

As the days go on and new challenges of social distancing come up I'll continue to post, discussing not only my own family's issues of being cooped up together, but possible ways to overcome the loneliness of isolation, the mundanity of being stuck inside the same 4 walls, and the overwhelming sense of doom this crisis has blanketed out world with. Thank you for your time, if you're able to, please consider tipping me, even if it's just a dollar, as the financial stability of my family is reliant on just one person, and we don't know if/when his job site may close down.