Vindication is MINE!!!

Honestly….I’m kind of loving that my husband and kids are seeing what I’m really doing at home while they are usually away at work and school.

 Were they aware of just how many times a week I have to sweep the floor to keep it looking like that. 

Do they know that I open and close the shades at strategic times of the day to minimize our use of the air/heat?

Now they see how often the dog poop needs to be picked up so that the yard isn’t a poop PIT.

 Its also has become irrefutably clear, the very real monster that laundry and dishes are. 

I could go on like this for hours.

Newsflash…

Its not magic that keeps the house and family running like it does… 

Its ME!! 

Don’t despair if your family is not quite ‘getting’ it in your house yet. They will…oh they will…

(maniacal laughter)

I admit that I am down for the show when my husband gets irritated at the kids after just a couple of hours… 

(lightweight…) 

And with my meticulously designed Home School Schedules (I love a schedule) there are nice big blocks of time where the kids are up in their rooms working, and the house is quiet. 

Another perk… the kids’ rooms have never looked so clean!!

From what I see on social media, my friends are experiencing similar things at home with their families. 

I mean, maybe their husbands are totally annoying them, or maybe the kids aren’t on a schedule at ALL, and it’s more free-for-all fun! 

But I see a lot of projects, and cooking, games, and family time. 

People are talking about what new skills they are going to learn, using this time to reflect on themselves and their lives, or recommitting to workout, or set-aside project goals.

Basically…while things are definitely not cool…things don’t totally suck.

What I described above is how this Coronavirus quarantine is affecting a portion of the population. 

While my family is at the mercy of the uncertain financial and health implications we are all facing, for many, this is 100% a financial, or personal devastation that they will not recover from.

I’ve talked about the concept of gratitude as it relates to my kids , but this time it fits squarely in my lap.

We are all in our own little pain bubbles right now, consumed with all of the things that we have to do to take care of for our own families. 

And we do have do that right now. 

But in the midst of our schedule sharing (mine’s great), online class resources, fun indoor activities, family outings in nature, or just commiserating about how bored we are, there are families who are in a real crisis moment.

For certain, its a moment to stop and be grateful.

And as the world takes a break, I hope more people take this time to think about what they want to see in the world when we come back out of this…

Maybe a renewed focus on preserving and protecting the environment,

…a more cooperative attitude towards others in our lives , 

or a greater overall appreciation for the lives we have been given. 

People will laugh and say ‘You’ve got a lot of faith in people Natalie!’

I do.

I have faith that this experience will change absolutely nothing for some people. 

And I have faith that some people will take this unavoidable pause in life to reevaluate and arrive at some new perspectives. 

For me, the Great Toilet Paper Incident of 2020 has literally crystallized the core issue of a ‘Mine Mine!’ approach, and I’m pretty cool not being a part of that mentality.

I don’t feel guilty about what I have or feel like I don’t deserve it. I do. And I’ll keep posting pics of my projects and my dogs lounging in the sun, because that is my life. 

But I won’t allow my isolation inside my personal bubble to keep me blissfully ignorant of the fact that there are families out there right now that desperately need to know that someone sees them, and their struggle, and will look out for them.

And I will no DOUBT continue to delight in every moment where my children or my husband are frustrated by some monotonous task they didn’t even realize needed to be done.

Ah the simple things…