Toys are strewn across the floor, socks on the couch, food paper, and empty plates dot the living room, yes, this is a new reality. Homework packets lay across the dining room table next to the books that are currently being assigned. I’m teaching decimals, addition, and subtraction along with compound words and testing comprehension. My events are canceled, however, I’m still working on books. I just released a new book last week. Many of the people that I work with are helping me to create new avenues to reach my readers and radio listeners. We are officially in quarantine. Our governor issued an executive order instructing citizens to stay home. It’s only been a week and it feels like it’s been a month.
Cabin fever is setting in. My kids are bouncing off the walls. They think they’re on vacation, yet, I keep telling them we’re in a crisis because of Covid-19. We’re struggling to get assignments done, and including logging on to their remote learning sites because everyone is at home and is using the internet. The battle of housework, preparing meals, and everything else we’re supposed to be doing and oh yeah, the disinfecting of our homes has become a back to back ordeal. It’s a lot to digest and a lot to remember. Don’t touch anything and then don’t touch your face. Now my face itches all the time whenever I go out. Always wash your hands. I was a hand-washer before, although now my diligence borders on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has demonstrated that it is nothing to play around with. One has to be intentional and careful in protecting ourselves.
A trick that has helped my family is removing our shoes when we come inside and washing our hands and face, which helps to protect all of us in the house. As my cousin reminded me, “Remember when you came home you immediately changed out of your school clothes or church clothes and into your play-clothes.” We got away from that and with Covid-19 running rampant we’re now practicing behaviors from days long gone to protect ourselves.
But back to the chaos of quarantine with my kids, all they want to do is eat so we made a store and they have to do chores to earn money so they can purchase snacks from the store. Seriously, they went through four boxes of cookies in like four days. It was ridiculous. I tried to rationalize with my children, however, these people don’t understand and they are not trying to either. They just want to eat and play all day long. I reminded them that they did not eat at school like that. My darling children just shrugged their shoulders. I’m at a loss.
Frustration has taken over. The drill sergeant has come out and demanded strict attention to detail on homework and all school projects including chores and retrieving socks from the couch. I’m trying to regain control of my home and surroundings, but quarantine has put a damper on that because, in reality, it’s uncontrollable. No one knows how long this will go on. Experts, politicians and other leaders try to provide direction and reassurance, although mostly it seems to create more angst than what was intended. So instead, I’ll take a deep breath and inhale and exhale three times to relax. Socks, dishes, and homework will just be here. It isn’t going anywhere. This is the new normal at least for a while.
I don’t know about you, but, I’m curious about what our new normal will look like when this is all over. Certainly, if there was an opportunity to rescind a year, 2020 would be it. I don’t think anyone who woke up on January 1, 2020, thought that they’d be facing a pandemic when they said, “This is going to be my year.” And what a year it has been so far.
Monthly Archives: March 2020
Pandemic Fear…
Covid-19 is causing lots of people to act irrationally. The act of preparedness is at an all-time high. People are buying stacks of toilet paper, bleach, food, and ammunition. This situation is surreal. It feels like we’re in an apocalyptic movie or my husband’s favorite show, the Walking Dead, which, I am unable to watch because it gives me nightmares right now. Suffice it to say my anxiety is running high.
I’ve tried turning off the news and unplugging from social media, however, the need to be informed keeps drawing me back. As I write this, Love Struck Café’, which is a Hallmark movie that I like is currently playing. I’ve been very intentional in watching programming that uplifts me rather than brings me down. A constant diet of watching the news with its constant reporting of doom and gloom can be rather unsettling. A shutdown is inevitable yet, so many people it seems didn’t seem to think it was possible. Two weeks ago, I would’ve thought the same thing, however, once the schools closed, I knew it was inevitable. Unfortunately, in order to stop the virus from spreading, society has to distance itself from each other. For the extrovert in me, the idea is maddening.
The atmosphere of panic is intense and palpable. Grocery Stores and pharmacy shelves are bare. Restaurants, bars and other public places of entertainment and escape are closing including churches. What will we do for fun? How about read a book or catch up on all the Netflix programming. There are so many shows it’d probably take us a year to get caught up. How will we worship? How about cracking open our bibles and bible apps and spending time in quiet study of the word in the presence of God. Who are these people that I live with? Hey maybe that’s your family or your spouse, partner, etc., however, you may identify. Guess what! You are going to have to communicate. Interestingly, we’ll all have to have one on one conversations with the people closest to us. Honestly, I think that’s what scares people more than anything.
I’ll be frank the virus is scary, but, what scares me more than anything is the people that will panic and act out violently. Also, if I’m brutally candid the sheer amount of callous, greed, and self-centered behavior in policies designed to help people is utterly preposterous. As a Christian, I know that God is in control, yet, I also know that the devil is busy. This is where I must lean on my faith and trust that God will provide a way and keep us safe during this difficult time.
I encourage each of you who is reading this to do what you need to do to make sure that you take care of your mental health. Eat your vegetables, take your vitamins, drink water, stay hydrated, get lots of rest, and pray. Take this time to work on a home project or simply slow down. Let’s not let fear overtake us. Step up to Faith and watch God work. Remember, this too shall pass.
Kimberly Batchelor Davis 