First, the good news:
J's assistant tested negative for Covid and is feeling much better. Hooray!
Then, the better news:
On the heels of this announcement, the girls and I decided on the spur of the moment to pay Grandma and Papa a visit.
The hugs were as wonderful as I'd imagined. The smiles were priceless. And the speed with which things clicked back to normalcy made my heart happy.
And though I explained several times that this would not be a sleepover, the kids won the battle.
So, for the best news of all:
J and I have a kid free evening!!!
What to do, what to do?!
Anything!
Nothing!
Whatever we want, on our own schedule.
It. is. so. quiet...
Monday, June 1, 2020
Sunday, May 31, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 81
In this weekend's instalment of The Pandemic Projects, we continue our theme of keeping the kids occupied.
The zipline we put up last weekend got a bit of action this week, though the neighbour's pool was the star of the show on account of the blistering heat. This weekend we added a ninja rope course to the mix. We bought them both last year as part of a master plan for a backyard treehouse. The treehouse project is still floating around in the ether, but we figured we could at least work with what we already have.
I didn't get pics of the new addition, but I did get a little video of this fella who came to check out what we were up to:
And if that weren't exciting enough, we also found a great outdoor playset on Kijiji. If you've been in the market for such a purchase recently you will know that these babies are the new toilet paper. Sold out everywhere. The only good news is that, unlike TP, there's a market for secondhand playsets. We spent most of the day on Sunday dismantling it and bringing it home. So now you know what we're doing next weekend...
Saturday, May 30, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 80
We're feeling a bit of the Pandemic Blues today.
After much thought and discussion, we've decided that it's time to expand our "bubble" to accommodate our parents and my brother-in-law. We've all been strictly isolating for many weeks, and we've come to a point where we're all comfortable with sharing space again.
It comes with continued sacrifices though, to make sure we're not exposing anyone to unnecessary risks. While some are now relaxing their restrictions around going to stores and getting together, we've decided to maintain our quarantine status to make this bubble expanding venture as safe as it can be.
To that end, I made the decision to cancel a get together I had been planning to attend on Friday night. It was going to be my first social outing in 80+ days, with a group of people I have missed terribly. I could have gone and done my best to distance myself, and I went back and forth about it for a while. But I realized that if I went, then I would have to be okay with everyone else in our bubble making the same decision, and it wouldn't be long before the whole thing broke down. So I stayed home, knowing that fun was being had just across the street, and I felt a bit sorry for myself.
What made me feel better though, was the plan for Saturday. We were going to my parents' house for dinner and hugs and no social distancing whatsoever for the first time in forever. We were all very excited. All day the girls kept asking when it would be time to go.
Finally, the time came. The girls had even negotiated a sleepover and had packed their own bags full of all kinds of fun. We were just getting into the car when my husband got a text.
His office assistant, the only person he has been in contact with at work every day, was feeling ill and was going in to get tested. We all just stood there in the driveway and stared at each other. We tried making excuses. "She doesn't have classic symptoms. It's probably not Covid." "There's probably a latent period before anyone she infected would be contagious." "We could just try to keep our distance but still visit."
But in the end we all knew that we should just stay home. We called my parents. They agreed that it was the right decision. But it didn't feel good.
So much anticipation. So much excitement. And poof. Cue major bummer vibe.
What had been a pretty great day was now a total bust. We went inside and sat around and moped. Eventually, E had a great idea and made strawberry Nutella milkshakes, which helped a bit. We watched a movie and ate pasta and brownies, which helped a bit too.
But what came out of the disappointment was the conviction that all of our precautions are worth it. If I had gone to the party on Friday, I would now have five new families to worry about spreading the virus to. If we had gone to my parents' house before we got that text, I would have felt awful.
We can't eliminate all of the risk, but this reminder of the importance of what we're doing takes away a bit of the sting of missing out.
Also, gifts like these from my Dog Mom friends:
After much thought and discussion, we've decided that it's time to expand our "bubble" to accommodate our parents and my brother-in-law. We've all been strictly isolating for many weeks, and we've come to a point where we're all comfortable with sharing space again.
It comes with continued sacrifices though, to make sure we're not exposing anyone to unnecessary risks. While some are now relaxing their restrictions around going to stores and getting together, we've decided to maintain our quarantine status to make this bubble expanding venture as safe as it can be.
To that end, I made the decision to cancel a get together I had been planning to attend on Friday night. It was going to be my first social outing in 80+ days, with a group of people I have missed terribly. I could have gone and done my best to distance myself, and I went back and forth about it for a while. But I realized that if I went, then I would have to be okay with everyone else in our bubble making the same decision, and it wouldn't be long before the whole thing broke down. So I stayed home, knowing that fun was being had just across the street, and I felt a bit sorry for myself.
What made me feel better though, was the plan for Saturday. We were going to my parents' house for dinner and hugs and no social distancing whatsoever for the first time in forever. We were all very excited. All day the girls kept asking when it would be time to go.
Finally, the time came. The girls had even negotiated a sleepover and had packed their own bags full of all kinds of fun. We were just getting into the car when my husband got a text.
His office assistant, the only person he has been in contact with at work every day, was feeling ill and was going in to get tested. We all just stood there in the driveway and stared at each other. We tried making excuses. "She doesn't have classic symptoms. It's probably not Covid." "There's probably a latent period before anyone she infected would be contagious." "We could just try to keep our distance but still visit."
But in the end we all knew that we should just stay home. We called my parents. They agreed that it was the right decision. But it didn't feel good.
So much anticipation. So much excitement. And poof. Cue major bummer vibe.
What had been a pretty great day was now a total bust. We went inside and sat around and moped. Eventually, E had a great idea and made strawberry Nutella milkshakes, which helped a bit. We watched a movie and ate pasta and brownies, which helped a bit too.
But what came out of the disappointment was the conviction that all of our precautions are worth it. If I had gone to the party on Friday, I would now have five new families to worry about spreading the virus to. If we had gone to my parents' house before we got that text, I would have felt awful.
We can't eliminate all of the risk, but this reminder of the importance of what we're doing takes away a bit of the sting of missing out.
Also, gifts like these from my Dog Mom friends:
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 76
I don't even know where to begin.
Man, it's hot. That's as good a place as any.
How hot is it??
It is so hot, that I can be totally fed up with everyone and everything by 8:49am.
It is so hot, that you would have to be a total lunatic to cook anything.
It is so hot, that if you don't have a pool in your backyard or access to someone else's, I personally give you permission to commit a felony.
It is so hot, that a few of us without the benefit of AC are pining for those frigid offices with the locked thermostat and the ubiquitous cardigan on the back of the chair.
It is so hot that my dog is giving the chipmunks free reign of our backyard.
It is so hot, that there's a very good chance that someone, somewhere is being caught naked on a Zoom meeting today.
Man, it's hot. That's as good a place as any.
How hot is it??
It is so hot, that I can be totally fed up with everyone and everything by 8:49am.
It is so hot, that you would have to be a total lunatic to cook anything.
It is so hot, that if you don't have a pool in your backyard or access to someone else's, I personally give you permission to commit a felony.
It is so hot, that a few of us without the benefit of AC are pining for those frigid offices with the locked thermostat and the ubiquitous cardigan on the back of the chair.
It is so hot that my dog is giving the chipmunks free reign of our backyard.
It is so hot, that there's a very good chance that someone, somewhere is being caught naked on a Zoom meeting today.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 74
Weekends in quarantine are for delicious, deep-fried doughnuts,
and fun backyard projects like Project Zipline!
Dangerous, you ask? Can't be. My husband, the anti-trampoline crusader, gives it two thumbs up. I mean, what could go wrong??
*stay tuned for next week's episode of The Real Doctor's Kids of the ER...
and fun backyard projects like Project Zipline!
Dangerous, you ask? Can't be. My husband, the anti-trampoline crusader, gives it two thumbs up. I mean, what could go wrong??
*stay tuned for next week's episode of The Real Doctor's Kids of the ER...
Friday, May 22, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 72
Into another weekend we go!
This week by the numbers:
1 puzzle challenge completed (and another one not even close)
2 picnic lunches (also the number of times my children have ingested kale this week without their knowledge)
3 math sheets completed (...feels more like 30)
4 impressive Magnatile creations
5 delicious dinners (pizza, lasagna, chili, tuscan chicken pasta, burgers)
5 more masks sewn
8-ish hours of scooting
10 ice cream novelties consumed
15 cups of coffee consumed (give or take)
18 Zoom meetings
52 new dandelions sprouted one day after weeding
3,672 beautiful blossoms admired on neighbourhood walks
This week by the numbers:
1 puzzle challenge completed (and another one not even close)
2 picnic lunches (also the number of times my children have ingested kale this week without their knowledge)
3 math sheets completed (...feels more like 30)
4 impressive Magnatile creations
5 more masks sewn
8-ish hours of scooting
10 ice cream novelties consumed
15 cups of coffee consumed (give or take)
18 Zoom meetings
52 new dandelions sprouted one day after weeding
3,672 beautiful blossoms admired on neighbourhood walks
...and one new conquest in the world of bread-making: Bannock!
Not a tricky one, by any stretch of the imagination. But a great recipe to have when it's an hour until dinner and you're looking for something to smother with goat cheese and tomatoes!
Thursday, May 21, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 71
Today, my friends, I earned my homeschooling stripes.
We found ourselves, once again, in a situation where E was wrapping up her work for the day, eager to get outside, only to find out that mistakes were made. Many mistakes. Many small, easy to make mistakes that, when added together to create a sea of erroneousness, meant that work needed to be redone.
This news was not well received.
It's not the first time this has happened. Which is what makes it all the more frustrating for everyone. One party is frustrated that they have already spent so much time on an assignment, only to have to start all over again. One party is frustrated at having their sage advice ignored and their warnings unheeded, only to see the same mistakes repeated ad nauseam. Both parties are frustrated to see a beautiful day being wasted, stretching on into an afternoon otherwise intended for scooters and sunshine. And each party is frustrated with the other party for their role in landing us in this situation once again.
Sigh.
But this time, I was determined to keep my cool. No temper tantrums on this end today. No sir. The grown up will be the grown up. Come hockey sticks or high water. Or something like that.
I sat down, dug my heels in firmly, and calmly directed our attention to Question #1. When my eager student (obviously) didn't jump in with me, I remained calm. I stayed the course. I explained that we would be redoing the assignment, that we would be doing it together, and that the sooner it was completed the sooner we could get on with our day. My eager student communicated to me (through the use of various turns of phrase, vocal ranges and some expressive interpretive choreography) that she would prefer to a) not redo the assignment, b) decline my offer of assistance/supervision and c) discontinue homeschooling, full stop.
I clarified my role as educator, as a supportive presence to assist the process and perhaps identify potential errors at their source, thereby preventing multi-step backtracking, which would translate to decreased work time. I assured her my contribution would be a value-added experience, that I would maintain a positive attitude and calm demeanour in an effort to improve morale and smooth out any bumps we encountered.
She was skeptical, and expressed this skepticism in the form of a directive. I elected to ignore the insubordination and instead accepted the challenge.
We completed the assignment together in about 20 minutes. She smiled, she thanked me, and said "I know you are just trying to help. You're the best."
I will be waiting patiently by the mailbox until my award arrives, counting my grey hairs to pass the time.
We found ourselves, once again, in a situation where E was wrapping up her work for the day, eager to get outside, only to find out that mistakes were made. Many mistakes. Many small, easy to make mistakes that, when added together to create a sea of erroneousness, meant that work needed to be redone.
This news was not well received.
It's not the first time this has happened. Which is what makes it all the more frustrating for everyone. One party is frustrated that they have already spent so much time on an assignment, only to have to start all over again. One party is frustrated at having their sage advice ignored and their warnings unheeded, only to see the same mistakes repeated ad nauseam. Both parties are frustrated to see a beautiful day being wasted, stretching on into an afternoon otherwise intended for scooters and sunshine. And each party is frustrated with the other party for their role in landing us in this situation once again.
Sigh.
But this time, I was determined to keep my cool. No temper tantrums on this end today. No sir. The grown up will be the grown up. Come hockey sticks or high water. Or something like that.
I sat down, dug my heels in firmly, and calmly directed our attention to Question #1. When my eager student (obviously) didn't jump in with me, I remained calm. I stayed the course. I explained that we would be redoing the assignment, that we would be doing it together, and that the sooner it was completed the sooner we could get on with our day. My eager student communicated to me (through the use of various turns of phrase, vocal ranges and some expressive interpretive choreography) that she would prefer to a) not redo the assignment, b) decline my offer of assistance/supervision and c) discontinue homeschooling, full stop.
I clarified my role as educator, as a supportive presence to assist the process and perhaps identify potential errors at their source, thereby preventing multi-step backtracking, which would translate to decreased work time. I assured her my contribution would be a value-added experience, that I would maintain a positive attitude and calm demeanour in an effort to improve morale and smooth out any bumps we encountered.
She was skeptical, and expressed this skepticism in the form of a directive. I elected to ignore the insubordination and instead accepted the challenge.
We completed the assignment together in about 20 minutes. She smiled, she thanked me, and said "I know you are just trying to help. You're the best."
I will be waiting patiently by the mailbox until my award arrives, counting my grey hairs to pass the time.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 70
It was a picnic lunch kind of day today. Glorious sunshine, cloudless skies and warm breezes. We're in the picnic sweet spot right now. Warm enough to lay out in the grass without getting a chill, but not warm enough to melt the food or bring the bugs out. It was so perfect, in fact, that our picnic lunch turned into a whole afternoon, basking, reading, zooming and snacking...all from the comfort of a picnic blanket.
We did peel ourselves off long enough for the girls to continue their intense scooter training regimen and for me to decide that dandelions have enjoyed our lawn for the last season. With the help of a handy tool from a neighbour and over the course of two hours, I evicted every last visible dandelion from our property, including the boulevard. It was backbreaking work, but so satisfying when it was over. Sure, my husband didn't notice, even as I paraded him up and down the length of the property, prompting him to take note of any landscaping improvements as we went. But I know. And I'm happy with that.
We did peel ourselves off long enough for the girls to continue their intense scooter training regimen and for me to decide that dandelions have enjoyed our lawn for the last season. With the help of a handy tool from a neighbour and over the course of two hours, I evicted every last visible dandelion from our property, including the boulevard. It was backbreaking work, but so satisfying when it was over. Sure, my husband didn't notice, even as I paraded him up and down the length of the property, prompting him to take note of any landscaping improvements as we went. But I know. And I'm happy with that.
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 69
Today is the day we learned that the girls will not be going back to school until September.
Monday, May 18, 2020
This is Quarantine: Day 68
Do you ever have those days when you really want it to be a good day, and you try and try to make it a good day, but the forces of nature seem to be conspiring against you and nothing seems to work out?
No, me neither.
But I've heard that there are people who have those days sometimes. So I thought I'd offer them some free advice.
1. On those days, do not watch Inside Out. Jesus, that movie. I can't keep my eyes dry on the best of days with that one. Stay far away from it on emotionally fragile days.
2. Take a loooong shower. Shave, scrub your feet, do a face mask, put all the lotion on your skin...do all of those things that get skipped most days when you're just trying to get in and out to start your day. And make sure to turn the fan on todrown out your family regulate the humidity.
3. Don't pin your happiness on anything involving cooperation.
4. And if whatever it is is so important to you, then just do the damn thing yourself. If you're lucky, FOMO will get the others to join you after all.
5. Find that thing that feels like a warm hug for you. Put on a cozy sweater, pour another cup of coffee or tea or wine, find someone who isn't grinding your gears to give you an actual hug...just find something that makes you take a step or two away from the ledge and spend a few moments just enjoying it.
6. Understand that a lot of the time, those precious ingrates will push back simply because they've discovered they can. Introduce fun ideas the way you introduce broccoli - don't expect success the first time, just hope that eventually they'll go for it. If you plant the seed, it won't necessarily take root immediately, but with a little patience they'll come around. You know, once they've decided that it's their idea.
6. And if you've tried everything and once again, everyone is screaming and whining and crying and objecting vehemently to all of your best efforts, just quietly make your way back to bed. It's nice up there. And it usually elicits at least a few minutes of remorse.
A wonderful neighbour dropped off some timbits for the girls yesterday, and as we were chatting, she suddenly stopped mid-sentence and said "You know, you are a very good looking girl." Just like that. A propos of nothing. If I had a day today like the ones I described above, I might have gone back to that nice memory a few times to lift my spirits.
She called me a girl.
No, me neither.
But I've heard that there are people who have those days sometimes. So I thought I'd offer them some free advice.
1. On those days, do not watch Inside Out. Jesus, that movie. I can't keep my eyes dry on the best of days with that one. Stay far away from it on emotionally fragile days.
2. Take a loooong shower. Shave, scrub your feet, do a face mask, put all the lotion on your skin...do all of those things that get skipped most days when you're just trying to get in and out to start your day. And make sure to turn the fan on to
3. Don't pin your happiness on anything involving cooperation.
4. And if whatever it is is so important to you, then just do the damn thing yourself. If you're lucky, FOMO will get the others to join you after all.
5. Find that thing that feels like a warm hug for you. Put on a cozy sweater, pour another cup of coffee or tea or wine, find someone who isn't grinding your gears to give you an actual hug...just find something that makes you take a step or two away from the ledge and spend a few moments just enjoying it.
 |
| An absurdly large puzzle can be an excellent diversion |
 |
| A lap full of cuddles can be an adorable distraction |
6. And if you've tried everything and once again, everyone is screaming and whining and crying and objecting vehemently to all of your best efforts, just quietly make your way back to bed. It's nice up there. And it usually elicits at least a few minutes of remorse.
A wonderful neighbour dropped off some timbits for the girls yesterday, and as we were chatting, she suddenly stopped mid-sentence and said "You know, you are a very good looking girl." Just like that. A propos of nothing. If I had a day today like the ones I described above, I might have gone back to that nice memory a few times to lift my spirits.
She called me a girl.
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