Milo and I watched the sunrise this morning. That was a nice start to the day, and
less stressful than reading the news. Highly recommend this.
Personally I think the key to navigating any change is to set up routines, and real quick. John and I have self-induced so many big changes in the last 10 years that we've become pretty good at it. I think at one point I counted 7 house moves, one state move, different schools, lots of extended traveling (culture shock is a tough change for kids)...the list goes on. All of those things disrupt your routine, and the result is always predictable with kids (and adults for that matter). You feel uncomfortable, you don't like it, you feel grumpy, uneasy, angry, sad, and sometimes physically ill. It's textbook every time. We crave predictability and routine.
So the writing was on the wall that this change with covid-19 that we are currently dealing with would be no different. The kids have gone thru all stages for sure, and I've seen them in myself too. We have all been thrown into a new routine, or rather, our OLD routines were all ripped away from us so we were spinning without routines. No school, no work, no dinner out Friday, no social events....the list goes on.
So, my big push this week has been to try and stick to the old routines that I could stick with (family dinner, tulips on the front table, etc.), and establish some new ones. It doesn't take very long to get new habits going, and it always amazes me how easily the kids will get in the new flow.
So my new routines for me include my 10 sun salutations each morning, and then an online yoga class. Then we are making breakfast. Romeo and I take a walk late morning with the dog, and practice spelling and math problems. Then it's music practice time, then Gia bakes something in the afternoon. Nothing monumental, but I've noticed how quick they are grabbing on to the new rituals--they are like life preservers.
Today Ava decided she wanted to go on a run, and she tried to recruit Lucia who wouldn't go, so she begged me and despite it being the LAST thing I actually felt like doing, I did it. Two minutes into the run Ava turns to me and says, "are you going to run like a grandma the whole time?" Nothing like a little teen shaming to force you to run faster. I think I might have shin splints for weeks now. Ava never works out, and she still seemed unphased by the spur of the moment run. It wore me out though and I think my big toe is dislocated. Super irritating.
I will also just say, that despite setting up a new schedule/routine and recognizing how important that is, I really miss my old one. I grieved it a little today to be honest. Maybe even more than a little. I miss you old life, I miss you bad....can't wait to get back to you.
Hope everyone made it thru the week. Curious to see what what new routines everyone is establishing that is
working for them. I'm tossing up this picture that John took at a restaurant last week because it really is pretty funny (and not funny at the same time I guess). It made me laugh though! TP rolls $500, and one pump of hand sanitizer for $300. Cheeky.
Signed, ME {lv}
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