COVID-19 Family Isolation HOT TIPS: Build ALL The LEGOS!
For parents right now, shit is scary. There’s a lot of really scary info being thrown at us nonstop and we’re making game day decisions left and right. I live in Chicago and things are getting really weird really fast. But there’s already enough fear and anxiety. Like, I take my meds daily and honestly, I could use a lil bump of more meds, probably. It’s been a great week for my anxiety. That bitch is in full control right now.
I know I’m not the only one experiencing increased anxiety. And what we don’t need is one more article discussing the nuts and bolts of what’s royally shaking up civilization. So, if that’s what you were looking for, why are you reading my medium article that has the word shit in the first sentence? Why aren’t you reading, say, what Dr. Allison Arwady has to say? (If you need a calming moment, look up videos of her speaking at Illinois/Chicago pressers. You’re welcome!) What do we need? Lightheartedness. Alas! Something I’m skilled at!
Our children’s school is on the verge of closing, we’re waiting, with bated breath, for that final confirmation email to come though. As my husband and I prepare for the possibility of extended social isolation in order to quash the rapid spread of COVID-19, we’re also trying to not scare our kids while keeping them informed and being as honest and gentle as we can.
And if I’m going to entertain two rambunctious boys who love physical play and climbing and jumping and would definitely rather be at the park than stuck inside from now until the end of Spring Break, said boys are going to look back on this truly unprecedented experience in history as a time when mom let go of rules and we all hunkered down and had a lot of fun inside together.
Day One of Precautionary Social Isolation With Two Rambunctious Kids Under Ten Hot Tips:
BUILD ALL THE LEGOS! The months since the holidays have gotten away from me and we haven’t built all the Lego sets my kids received. We’re Lego fanatics, so we have a nice stockpile. And that’s without clearing out entire shelves at the store. Staggered purchasing before that was a talking point, ya dig?
I went through their bedrooms and pulled every single set out. I divided them by kid, because my nine-year-old insisted on that. It would be absolutely unconscionable for them to get mixed up. Oh the horror! As you can see, their priorities and worries are still very age-appropriate, so high-five me! With proper separation settled, we’ll move through the sets like a South Korea COVID-19 testing drive-thru. Which is something we should have here too, but well, you elect a clown you get an apocalyptic circus.
Oh, but you seriously can’t sit there and build Legos, like, ALL day, I mean, that’s unrealistic.
You bet! So, like any smart female leader, I’ve got a plan for that!
I’ve lifted the screen time settings on their devices. This may seem counterproductive to my Lego building plan. Ah, worry not, dear reader, there is a method to my madness. How do you expect me to get my work done from home if I’m stopping every few minutes to help with a Lego crisis. You guys, if we’re all going to be cooped up together for who knows how long and people are dying in increasing numbers, I don’t give a flying fuck about screen time rules. I just don’t. I can go back to caring after life returns to whatever new normal awaits us. And we’ll build all the Legos when I’m done updating you all on my isolation with children survival plans.
Balance!
But in all seriousness, I have a legit inquiry:
Do I still need to recycle or are we wrapping up this whole humanity thing? Cause I could free up a lot of my time for Lego builds by no longer rinsing out pasta sauce jars.
