50 Things I Have Learned from Quarantine

What I learned from 1 week of quarantine . . . (Hang on, this is a looooong one!): 1. Life is still amazing! 2. Hearing childhood laughter around the neighborhood is wonderful. 3. There is so much more to be learned in life than kids learn in school. 4. Teachers checking in is amazing! 5. I wish I always had this much time with my kids. 6. I am going to hurt financially for a long time from this. 7. Our kids are too scheduled on a normal basis . . . mine aren't as much as some, but I have seen more free play this week than I have ever seen. 8. Binge watching the birds, bugs, and plants is more fulfilling than binge watching screens. 9. I am amazingly lucky that I get to have this perspective. 10. Watching our kids play this week was like seeing our own childhood. 11. Homemade bread will always beat store bought, and involves science, creativity, and love. 12. I hurt for those who cannot provide for their children because of this. 13. Get your kids outside. There may be a couple of hours of resistance, but the end result is "do we have to come in?" 14. My exact situation is not exactly like anyone else's. Do your best. I love you. 15. Getting your garden in early is an extreme blessing. 16. Watching your kids invent a game kicking a soccer ball at an archery target is a joy. 17. Soak this up. We are all gonna hurt after this because of the society we created, but our kids will only remember how you spent this time. 18. Working every night after my kids go to bed has set me up well for this new norm. 19. As an extreme extrovert, social distancing is very difficult. 20. Having the time to teach resilience is invaluable. 21. Having the neighbor kid jumping on her trampoline saying "hi!" every time she sees us over the fence is wonderful. 22. Seeing people out biking and walking is glorious. 23. Having musicians play free concerts is amazing! 24. Finally getting an automatic chicken watering system up and running is worth every second. 25. Teaching kids math with seeds, and science through timing their lifecycle, is how it should be done. 26. Politicians stealing from people, while others suffer, is despicable. 27. Life could be much simpler if we let it. 28. Get close to those close to you . . . even at a distance. We all need this. 29. Take this opportunity to take an online, all of a sudden free, class from an ivy league school. They are offering us gold. 30. Don't think for a second that this is over. Our lives may be changed for years. 31. Be silly, play games, and treat this like a break, knowing we will all be in debt because of it. 32. Do some projects on your home. Now is the time, and you can involve your kids. What a sense on ownership! 33. Chores are work that needs to be learned. 34. Life as normal will someday resume, but hopefully that involves some new normal. 35. Dirty kids are a sign of good living! 36. Take care or your local businesses, they are offering services, and they need it as much as we do. 37. We all want to gather, play sports, sit on the beach, and have playdates, but we have to abstain. 38. Love yourself during this time, and find minutes for YOU! 39. Take a walk. Hear the birds. Pick flowers. Bake something. What was valuable to your parents/grandparents? 40. This is a new era. How will you change? 41. This will be a terrible strain on families, relationships, and friendships, but the best ones will pan out. I promise. 42. This was a terrible week for the air conditioning to go out. 43. I wish pollen season and coronavirus didn't coexist. 44. I am so thankful that the azaleas are blooming like an explosion of love! 45. If you have read this far, know that if you are my facebook friend, than I truly love you and am here if you need me. All differences and politics aside. 46. We are strong, resilient, and powerful. Use your gifts for good. 47. I miss your faces and love at least seeing you through posts. 48. Stay strong. You are amazing. 49. Wake up tomorrow and seize the weekend. It is yours for the taking. 50. I love you.

We will get through this. Kindness, love, and gratitude are our best friends. I am so thankful for this week. You are all amazing!