Covid-19 Diaries Week 7

Day 43 April 25 - It was a bad day.  The end.

Day 44 April 26 - A rainy day, a clean-up day, a buttermilk pancake day.  Nothing much happened in these four walls.

Day 45 April 27 - We had another music day for school today and after just a few times listening, Emilia was able to hum the familar notes of Fuer Elise.  We also used molds and kinetic sand to make in miniature some of the world's famous buildings, talked a little about them, and then looked up the corresponding countries on the world map.  Weather was lovely, so lots of backyard time, too.  Our governor announced today the first phases of the state's re-opening, but urges all for whom it is possible to continue to shelter-at-home and follow all social distancing guidelines.

Day 46 April 28 -  With temps near 80 degrees today, the girls took the season's first plunge into the pool.  We also got a lot of school work completed and baked blondies and jumped on the trampoline several times.

Day 47 April 29 - Much cooler today with rain plus multiple work commitments for Craig and me, so it was a no school day. Curry for dinner (yes, we love curry) and a lot of preteen 'tude and messes everywhere - so really, not much new.

Day 48 April 30 - We had a really productive day with home school and also with our jobs as well as did laundry and freshly cleaned the master bath.  I am feeling pretty accomplished today.  A Stay Safe Order was implemented until May 29 which still restricts what we can do despite some of the economy opening up over the next four days.

Day 49 May 1 - Happy May Day!  Emilia's epic IEP meeting finally came to an end today, but another meeting regarding compensatory education is scheduled.  Our district just announced that they will be ending the school year four days early on May 15, so that means we only have 10 more days of mandatory schooling to complete with Rex and Emilia and then I will be able to focus on goals and skills that we consider most meaningful for them in the coming months.

This and that from Week 7:

*Our preteen is struggling.
*Our youngest is learning at a much faster rate than we have seen in the parts of this school year that were actually spent at school.
*Our middle kiddo is immensely content.

Covid-19 Diaries Week 6

Day 36 April 18 -  I used my morning energy to cook ahead the weekend's meals all at once and then recruited my family to help me do a good kitchen cleaning.  The boys got backyard haircuts in the afternoon.

Day 37 April 19 - A quiet Sunday with mostly TV and reading and a generally non-productive approach. Craig worked on completing his absentee ballot for the Primary - the entire 2020 Ohio Primary is by mail.

Day 38 April 20 - The sun is back and we took full advantage of it with outdoor play and bike rides.  I dug out my old bread machine from The Land BC and made a buttermilk bread that was a yummy side with our dinner salads.  We also learned today that schools in Ohio will be closed until the end of the semester and quite honestly, I am relieved and thankful.

Day 39 April 21 - The baby birds are growing quickly, the wind was blowing strong, and my kids did not want to "learn" today.  We still powered through some language arts and math and then just let the chips fall as they would. Based upon a friend's recommendation, I baked a Wacky Cake which is super simple, fast to get into the oven, versatile for decoration, and tasty.  A neighbor brought me a bouquet of lilacs and some homemade coffee cake.

Day 40 April 22 -  Today was one of those days were I literally had to schedule a shower for myself to make sure it got accomplished.  We got most of the school work done, but the weather was so nice and the kids begged so much that we decided to open the pool.  It's green right now, but should be ready for swimming by May - for those who dare.  A neighbor brought us two large milkshakes to share and we enjoyed those lounging around the pool.  Ella said, "Now this really gives me the summer feeling."

Day 41 April 23 - Part 4 of Emilia's epic IEP team meeting that started on January 6 if you want to look at it that way.  Part 5 now scheduled for May 1.  Because of this meeting and our weekly grocery run, we had already decided that today was not going to be a school day.  Add to that the rain all day... and we let the girls have a Ronja marathon and Rex decided on his own to snuggle up with some favorite toys for most of the day.

Day 42 April 24 - School work this morning and then I got into a mad cooking frenzy in the afternoon to prep for the weekend.  Ella made a banana bread, too.  We had a mild day which means the great (backyard) outdoors were heavily utilized.

This and that from Week 6

*The Peggy Olson-Don Draper deep and evolving relationship is one of my favorites and very moving for me even in reruns.
*Emilia reeeeeaaaalllllyyyyyyy wants to get off the property and have some community adventures.  I never fully realized how important these experiences are to her because sometimes they do seem to overwhelm her as they happen.
*Some of our in-home therapy could start up again the second week of May, but the health guidelines are so rigid that we don't think we can adhere to what's required in a busy family-of-five-private-setting.
*The baby birds are nearly ready to leave the nest... and my front door is covered in bird poop.

Lilacs

My sweet neighbor brought me a bouquet of lilacs from her garden today and it made me tear up because I needed that spontaneous burst of beauty and appreciation and because lilacs are so heavily associated with my childhood springs in Germany.  What a feast for my eyes, nose, and heart these flowers will be in the coming days.

In the dooryard fronting an old farm-house near the white-wash’d palings,
Stands the lilac-bush tall-growing with heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
With many a pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong I love,
With every leaf a miracle—and from this bush in the dooryard,
With delicate-color’d blossoms and heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
A sprig with its flower I break.

-Walt Whitman

Covid-19 Diaries Week 5

Day 29 April 11 - Today was a fun day of acts of kindness.  We dropped off Easter cookies and a card with local friends as well as with an elderly colleague of Craig's who lives alone and has been very lonely.  We anonymously placed a gently used book with an encouraging note into the mailbox of a third grader on our street and we left a big birthday yard sign studded with candy for our good friend Joel who has to celebrate his 11th birthday in quarantine.

Day 30 April 12 - It's Easter which is always a very low key and calm holiday for us, so we're not feeling a loss here.  We had a special brunch, as usual, and hid a few Easter treats in the backyard for the kids between rain showers.  Connected with family and friends via social media.

Day 31 April 13 - We did an all art school day studying Gustav Klimt.  Nothing else exciting happened, but we're healthy and well and fully aware of/thankful for the privileges that make this quarantine much easier for us than for other families who are struggling.  Meanwhile, I am part of a very detail-oriented and time-consuming project at work, but glad to have "something from the outside" to occupy me when possible.

still eating all the yummy foods

Day 32 April 14 - Lots of school work today and it was pretty cold outside, so a bit of a double whammy for the kids.  We made it through with only mild upsets and no tears, so let's count it as another good day.

math facts stairs

studying planets

Day 33 April 15 - On what was going to be tax day (we filed well before), we received our stimulus deposit - I mention this only for the historical value for whoever reads this in the future.  We had another full day of school today and the baby birds in our door wreath hatched.

Day 34 April 16 - We received a big bag of art supplies from Ella's teacher and among them is a nearly intact June 1959 edition of Women's Day.  This is an incredible gift because Ella and I have been watching Mad Men which is set in the same period and having this authentic old magazine allows us to study the period a bit more, to discuss media messaging for women/girls then and now, and to learn some interesting tidbits from 61 years ago.  Indian take-out for dinner - yum.  And we had a sweet surprise on our front door to boot.

Day 35 April 17 - Today was a no good day, dark and rainy, with too ambitious professional goals and quickly withering educational ones.  Leftovers and a successful weekly grocery trip to a well stocked store were the saving grace.  I gave in to Gilmore Girls reruns at 4:00.  The end.

This and that from Week 5:

*The mild and sunny weather needs to return ASAP for mental health purposes.
*So many lovely gestures of support being traded on our little street.
*No lime tortilla chips at the store and we can't find a kite to buy either.
*I finished my second book of quarantine - I know that's not really an accomplishment for most, but since becoming a mom almost nine years ago it's been hard to find the time, space and quiet for reading.  Often I don't even have the energy for my beloved pastime and choose sleep instead.

Easter 2020

Easter was small and quiet and in many ways very much to our liking and not so different from how we usually spend this day.

I do want to take a moment here to compliment my kids on how well they have been doing since we went into lock-down a month ago.  There are, undoubtedly, some tough moments, but overall everyone has been so well behaved and cooperative and cheerful that these weeks have been quite enjoyable.  My kids lost access to over 80 hours of private therapy and intervention (not counting the additional they would receive at school) in the last month, but they are continuing to hold steady or progress across the board and that is a great feat.  I am really, really proud of my little chicks and how much strength and patience they are showing during this pandemic.

Covid-19 Diaries Week 4

Day 22 April 4 - A Saturday school day, but the kids were so cooperative and focused that it didn't take long to get finished.  We spent the rest of the day playing, being outside, watching TV, and chatting with friends via text and phone.

Day 23 April 5 - With a thick cloud cover, it felt chilly outside today.  We baked and grilled and had a two hour strategy meeting with our education advocate in preparation for a tele-IEP meeting tomorrow as well as a check-in with one of Rex's therapists.  The time went by fast today... just like it always does on Sundays.

Day 24 April 6 - A bumpy day. The first half of this day was taken up by an IEP meeting which still didn't complete and will be continued in two weeks and during the second half of the day Craig had work calls for six straight hours.  The kids weren't too happy with such absent parents, but we made it through.  When I finally was able to leave for my daily walk around 6:00 pm, I noticed that a little bird family has made a nest in our front door wreath.

Day 25 April 7 - Our lawn was cut for the first time this season today and I am happy that some service fields are still able to work and work safely.  My littlest love is showing many signs of her relationship with learning normalizing in the safe, supportive and sensory environment of our home and the work she is doing now is vastly more productive and joyful than when we started three weeks ago.  I honestly cannot imagine what she experienced at school this school year to build such walls around herself about learning.

Day 26 April 8 - The weather has been amazing and today was like a May day.  We were outside as much as possible and I even took Ella and a neighborhood friend on a long bike ride - six feet apart.  It was good for Ella to see another face and chat with another fifth-grader.  We did a little bit of school and otherwise just hung about.  Ella had some red wash-out hair paint, so we gave her temporary streaks that turned out well.  Toward midnight, we were under a tornado warning, so we had to trek everyone down to the basement which was kind of challenging.

Day 27 April 9 - A rough start after last night's weather interruptions, but by about 8:30, we had the kids back on track (protein, essential oils, favorite activities to the rescue).  Craig made our weekly grocery run and found the store deserted, but well stocked.  He was even able to grab a few items our elderly neighbors had mentioned they needed, but not been able to find in recent weeks.  We had a pretty full school day and also ventured outside despite the biting wind.

Day 28 April 10 - We got bagels and cream cheese for breakfast from a local bakery which was quite a treat.  Lots of home school work today and by about 2:00 pm I hit a wall and ran out of steam and just wanted to veg out.  Fortunately, I had already prepared dinner, so taking it easier was not completely impossible.

This and that from Week 4

*So much Inside Out (the movie).  Emilia was even carrying around two small balls and when asked what she had there she said, "Core memories."
*Also, Mad Men once a day for Mama.  My girls now hum the Mad Men theme song when they play.
*Craig's been struggling with his professional workload this week given that the noise and activity level is quite high here despite all three kids doing incredibly well.

Covid-19 Diaries Week 3

Day 15 March 28 - Another glorious spring day with a high temp of 81.  We finished our home school work quickly to spend as much time as possible outside.  I planted some vegetable seeds in our little garden and we cleaned away dead leaves from our front yard landscaping.  Some late afternoon rain was fun for the girls.  For over a year and a half I have been taking a daily walk through a nearby cemetery which has recently come under new management. They have made a lot of improvements, including opening up the grounds to more than just pedestrians.  I love seeing the space used more by the public because rural /garden cemeteries historically were places intended as civic institutions for outdoor recreation.  There's now a bit of a revival to use cemeteries as cultural centers again and I am happy that this cemetery close to us is a part of it in a small way.

Day 16 March 29 - Breezy, but mild, so we were outdoors, of course.  We home schooled again today to free up our weekdays for our jobs as much as possible.  I made two kinds of muffins early in the morning and shared them fresh and warm with two families in our neighborhood. It was a good feeling to receive their thankful texts and to know I brightened their breakfasts. Our whole family helped me throw the Enchilada Orzo ingredients into the slow cooker, so dinner prep was lightning fast.  Overall, a relaxing day.

Day 17 March 30 - A no school day here, but I had some options for the kids to stay entertained if they needed help in that department (logic puzzles, painting, kinetic sand, maps, etc.) though with such lovely weather once more, they pretty much kept busy in the backyard.  We had a calm and low key day with delicious food.  I realized over the weekend that some new routines have already taken root.  For example, I now spend one hour each night after the kids go to bed picking up and cleaning - tasks I would normally leave for the morning hours while they are at school.  Also, breakage report for the last 48 hours: two dinner plates, one chair and a hole in the wall.  Only one was on purpose.  Oh and our schools are now closed until May 1.

Day 18 March 31 - It's been another good day.  The kids did a nice job with their school work and, considering we will home school for at least another month, I took some time to clean out and organize our home school/therapy closet.  Takeout Tuesday for dinner.

Day 19 April 1 - Emilia has been impatiently waiting for this new month because for some reason she thinks there will be thunderstorms in April. Apparently, she wants to enjoy one.  It's been a little bit tougher here today because of some not so wise in hindsight choices Craig and I made, but we got through.  Ella had her first distance learning classes today.  Been thinking of my Opa whose birthday it would have been today.

Day 20 April 2 - It was a no school day, but we did spend the whole day, off and on, talking about the composer and listening to the music of Frederic Chopin.  The girls danced a lot to the mazurkas and waltzes and Rex was visibly emotionally moved by these piano pieces.  The sunshine was back which lifted our moods.  Weekly grocery run and thankfully no shortages at our store.  Take out Thursday to support one of our favorite local Thai restaurants.  And in the evening my friend and I (separately but in a joint project) hid 120 Easter eggs in the yards of the children that are 6 and under in our neighborhood.

Day 21 April 3 - These beautiful spring days fill us with so much joy.  We're soaking up the sun and smelling the freshly cut grass, and sprinkling some hidden learning into the long, lazy hours.  I may have briefly fallen asleep in our hammock today until the girls came and held some newly picked chives under my nose to wake me.  Tonight, we were going to take these same ornery girls to see the Snow White ballet, but that's obviously cancelled, so I am glad we hadn't told them about their planned special night out with mama and daddy yet.  And another week comes to a close.

This and that from Week 3:

*The new dress code: Emilia pajamas or tutus, Rex topless, Ella sweats
*The number of different apps being used by teachers is simply overwhelming and then it doesn't help when they also change their regular class time to another slot, creating not only confusion, but also scheduling conflicts.
*I miss quiet.
*My two younger children are thriving with home school, lots of exercise, and free play.