How A Pandemic Forced The World To Slow Down
Ways our family are growing together during the COVID-19 crisis
I’ve been working from home for a full week since COVID-19 forced the world to stand still (or stay home).
I felt the stress of making sure our family was taken care of with basic essentials like food and toilet paper. I worried about managing my work responsibilities and juggling parenting with my husband.
As the days moved on and glitches worked out we have settled into our new normal. A world that moved very fast has started slowing down. Proof that even in bad there is good.
Here’s how a pandemic helped our family slow down and reconnect.
Time Is On Our Side
My commute to work is 25 minutes. That’s 50 minutes a day. That’s a little over 4 hours a week. For those 25 minutes in the morning I am able to commit more time to myself. I can do a workout or spend more time with my daughter. Without worrying about a commute home I’m able to prepare family dinners (and desserts).
Speaking of family dinners, everyone is under the same roof. Even if my husband is still working, he can take some time away for everyone to enjoy a meal together.
The evening is my favorite. My husband and I go outside and play with our daughter. We do activities like hop-scotch, riding bicycles, wagon rides and playing on the swing set. We enjoy going for walks in our neighborhood and getting out.
We’ve used this time to cut technology, but we will use a cell phone to take photographs.
Getting fresh air and hearing the sweet sound of a child’s laugh is the greatest stress relief.
The Big Picture
When you’re a mother who works full-time it’s hard being away from your little ones. I swear there are days she looks like she has aged years between the time I have left for work and by the time I get home.
It’s heartbreaking to see the world suffer and live in fear, but this time has been a gift.
I love being home and being able to take a quick glimpse away from my computer to watch her play. I love watching her curiosity and joy. I’ve loved having her come up to me asking what I’m doing and actually seem interested.
Children bring a lot of humor to the world. There’s nothing like a sweet toddler voice yelling, “Bye!” repeatedly on the phone when I’m on a conference call.
The pandemic storm will pass, the big picture I’ve learned is to remember to slow down. It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life. It’s moments like these that make me realize we have to stop and smell the roses sometimes.
While the present is a stressful time. These will be the days we’ll remember and cherish. These young children will remember this as the time they got to be with their family. When the world stood still and we got to reconnect.