Covid-19:Uncertain Times

I figured I best blog about this, because someday this will become history. Someday, this event will be shared by Charlie (mostly) to his children and grandchildren. Hopefully, they will never experience what we are experiencing. Hopefully, future generations will learn, but alas, history continues to repeat.

It started about 1 week ago on March 12th. My kindergarten and 1st graders were about to have their concert at Glacier Edge Elementary School. Our principal informed us that the large groups were no longer allowed be together because of Coronavirus (Covid-19). We were allowed to keep our audience of outsiders and parents for that day, but the following day, no parents were allowed to watch the concert. We live streamed it. It feels like forever ago, but it was merely a week ago that our lives changed forever.

That Friday, an email went out to all staff to have the students take their ipads home. We knew what was coming. The end of school...for a couple weeks. We hoped. And then more news came on Saturday about this new term "social distancing" and then on Sunday "all schools on Monday" and then a few days later "all schools closed indefinitely" and then all restaurants and bars and...you name it. All extra curricular activities for kids canceled or went virtual. You name it. Life for our kids looks 100% different than it did a week ago. 

I had always thought that my kids lived too "easy" of a life. They have never known hardship, it's true. They have lost 2 grandparents, but that minimally affected them. They live in a good home with 2 loving parents, go to a good school, have parents who have the means to provide for a good life. This has been the first thing that has really tripped them up.

And it has tripped ALL of us up. It breaks my heart that my 7 year old girl can't play with her best friend just a few doors down. Our kids CANNOT play with each other outside. We cannot go to stores as a family or out to dinner. 

As I write this, I realize how privileged we are. Here are the positives so far:

--virtual schooling has started through the district. It is going as well as it can go.

--neither Adam or I will lose our job with this (many others will)

--we are not sick...yet

---we are not in the age group of the people with most severe symptoms

--we have the means and income to support other small businesses in the area

--we are slowing down, puzzles, games, books (but too much tech time too!)

--we have realized we will never take small stuff for granted. Going to the grocery store is like going to Disney world for the kids!

I am not overly optimistic this will be over soon (that is a blog for another time), but we are safe, relatively sane, and have no choice to venture onwards. Here's to a quick cure/vaccine/something....so this extrovert can get out. 

Here are some pics of our work from home spaces.