We’re doing good, but we still struggle.
It seems like one of the first questions I always get asked is “how are you guys making out with all this and staying home?” and my answer is usually the same – ‘we’re good!” which we really are. I’ve been a stay at home mom for about 15 years, or now the term is work at home mom?! We work on the farm plus I have my two little side business, Tiber River & Maskcara Beauty so being at home is not something really new to me. I am one of those people who love having my kids home. Come the end of school break, Christmas, spring and summer I dread having to send them back to school. I would love to keep them home with me – and as much as they love being home, they also love school and I think it is good for them, so off I send them (plus, I don’t believe that I am disciplined enough to home school) But now. . . they’re home with me!! Kind of crappy circumstances though right?!
One of my friends posted this and I just laughed, how true! So I’m sharing this one with you
So we’re good, we have had a lot of not so nice weather – hello wind and Manitoba springs, so we had a little routine going on. Girls would sleep in till about 9, well not the littlest – we see 6:30 with her! They would work on their own on their packages that came home from school and after lunch and I would put my LO down for a nap we would sit down and play Monopoly, like every. single. day. Some times multiple times. The girls upped their game as we played and even ended up kicking my butt several times! The air is warmer now and the snow has melted (please don’t come back!) and everyone is outside so much more these days!
So we’re doing good, but we still struggle. We’ve had some little breakdowns here when school work has become overwhelming and they just wished they could be back in school with their teachers. These girls have amazing teachers this year and it makes me super sad that they are not finishing up the year with them, but having amazing teachers also means that navigating this trying period has been that much easier. Breakdowns have also come after video chats or phone calls with friends, I think that comes back and hits your, making you realize what you’ve been missing, They’re sad about all the activities that they’re going to be missing out on this spring too.
And we’re good. However, we’re missing a lot. This spring had some really good stuff coming up – my girls Ukrainian dance and we had 3 competitions this year (Winnipeg, Brandon & Yorkton) as we added an extra dance group for one of the girls (who wishes she could dance even more!) plus their dance concerts. Art festival & piano recital (piano is life here for one of these girls) Some awesome field trips with school happening this year, like a band trip to Moose Jaw and a Ukrainian trip to Vegreville with all the Manitoba UK kids – that is one of the biggest highlights, she was super excited to connect with the same kids she met on the big grade six trip at UofM (the girls are in a Ukrainian Bilingual school program here!) Both girls were also finishing up their final years in their schools and with that came exciting year end things, like school tour, instrument try outs for band, dances and mini-grads. And Birthdays. . . .yes, its coming birthday season at our house and we’re not sure what that’s going to look like this year, actually we haven’t heard so much ramblings about birthdays but let me assure you that the upcoming camping season is high on the priority list here with them.
We’ve had conversations about bigger things that people are missing out on which definitely puts our little things into perspective but still whatever you had planned that you are missing out on, your still missing out on. These things are big to you and I think that’s its important not to dismiss that completely. So we take the time and we acknowledge those feelings and we regroup and keep moving forward. We talk about some of the positives that are coming out of this situation like the fact that the are getting to spend more time with their little sister because she’ll only be hitting kindergarten by the time the oldest is hitting grade 12. The oldest two will be out of the house for most of her grade school life. They get to hang out here with us, roam the farm and just be free. Staying busy with each other and bonding in ways that are so remarkable to watch and one day they’re going to really appreciate that.
So we’re doing good, but we still struggle. We miss our friends and family and cannot wait to reconnect face to face with them. We’re crossing out fingers and holding out for a summer full of fun with our people. Of warm days spent outdoors, because this will happen again and for the mean time, we wait. We try to exercise patience with each other and ourselves because even though we’re ‘social distancing’ we’re not in this alone. If you are feeling alone, please reach out, we all have days that are harder then others but remembering to be kind to others and ourselves will get us through to warmer days.
Everyone, no matter if you are still working, or finding your self newly home or have always been home, you will have moments of success and moments of struggle. Moments of being anxious and moments of peace. Wherever you find yourself, whichever state, don’t be too hard on yourself you are strong enough.
So even though we are doing good, we still struggle. And that’s okay.
Monopoly anyone?!
