How we’re doing while staying closer to home
We could call this a Currently or Around Here post, or even a Stream of Consciousness post. It’s how we’re doing during this stay at home time.
I’ve honestly prepared for this my entire adult career. Working from home is something I’ve been able to do relatively easily since graduating college and working with websites. That shouldn’t be the issue. It’s the parenting during a crisis, while working full-time that is getting me. It’s hard. My husband is also working from home full-time, and he has a couple of part-time jobs he has always done remotely. Add to my side hustles, and it’s a lot of work hours at home.
We’re basically working around the clock and it is exhausting.
A few things helping us maintain sanity around here (especially the kids, because believe it or not they have handled this relatively well, but I know this is hard on them.)
Swing! We have a new swing. This swing is awesome, and can hold both kids. They can also push each other on it, and we’ve been outside a LOT the past few weeks since it arrived. It also holds adults. And that’s my new favorite part. š (Here is a similar swing to what we have, as the one we have is sold out.)
Audio books. I had all but abandoned my podcasts and audio books since I’m not driving to an office 30 minutes from home, but I started listening to some again on my longer walks. Audiobooks.com has a 3-book/30-day free trial right now, if you want to try out the audio book route and your local library is coming up short. I get it. I love my local library, but sometimes I need books right now! You can even cancel any time during your free trial and still get your free books.
Gardening. As long as the weather stays nice, we spend a lot of time outside. It’s nice. I’ve had more time to be close to the garden so it’s getting a lot more attention (ie. I’m watering it more, and actually paying attention to it.)
Bikes and board games. The kids have been riding bikes a lot more and the other night night we broke out Connect 4, which we haven’t played this entire stay at home order! We’re trying to get away from the screens in the evenings and it seems to help bedtime. (That could be another post – how awful bedtimes have been for our kids. AWFUL.)
More plants and Biltmore! I spent part of the weekend re-potting a few indoor plants. My dad and stepmom sent me home with some aloe plants months ago, and they were begging for larger pots. And this past weekend, we were able to visit the Biltmore Estate (the grounds were open to limited number of local passholders.)
