This week I heard from a grandfather who had been wanting to take his grandson fishing. The grandson had always been too busy and had far too many organized activities. Now, he has spent 3 glorious days on the banks of the river teaching the boy to fish and telling him stories.
A wheelchair dependent woman with a rare condition has spent most of the last decade alone in the house M-F, as the rest of the family leaves early for work and comes home tired, hectic, and stressed. Now they are home every day and have time for conversation, games, and a push around the block.
A mom with a 4 year old and 18 month old is now working from home. While work during their waking hours has been challenging, she is finding that the early morning, evening hours, and nap time, work well, and she has two more hours that she is not spending commuting. She is getting to see her kids grow and is grateful to be able to earn a living at the same time. “I have wanted to work from home and COVID is giving me the chance to prove that I CAN get my work done from here.”
Dads and moms are getting more time with their kids- to cook together, to build that tree house, to learn some “life skills” like how to change a tire, change the oil, season a cast iron pan, fold a bedsheet, make a budget, take up a hem, or play an instrument.
An immigrant grandmother who speaks her native tongue is now able to continue teaching her grandchildren:
“My son and daughter-in-law are both physicians, and working long hours. I spoke to the grandchildren when they were little in our native tongue, but after they started school their vocabulary and grammar “froze” at the preschool level. Now that they are home with me again, their skill in our native tongue is advancing. Why not learn language this way, rather than through grinding years of high school and college language classes? And the learning is going both ways- these grandkids are teaching me new computer skills!”
Living a hectic, commuting life has led our family to too many fast food meals, too much food “forgotten” in the cupboards and “mystery” packages in the bottom of the chest freezer. We are now eating better, cleaning out, and finally getting organized.
Walking, walking, walking- I am seeing so many neighbors out walking – six feet apart, but I think I am getting to know them and having more social interaction than before COVID. People are stopping to talk and to share. I think the walking is helping me sleep better, more soundly. It has only been 10 days, but I have lost two pounds. I think we may end up healthier and happier.
Written by Trudy Horsting
