The Bright Side of The Corona Quarantine

children playing at home #covid19quarantine #thrivingduringcoronavirus

As I see all the news reports and hear the conversations about the corona quarantine and the ‘panic’ that some families are experiencing, it occurred to me that there is hopefully a bright side of the corona quarantine.

I remember the Christmas when I was pregnant with our 5^th child and all four of our children had chicken pox. Our oldest was five so…yeah…four children under five with chicken pox!

Of course, they didn’t all have it at exactly the same time. That would have been too easy! Just as one was turning the corner, the next one got it. We were quarantined from early December until the end of January.

It Was the Best Christmas Ever

All the “things” I always did, thought I had to do, and wanted to do were off the table. I had not even begun my Christmas shopping when the first child got the chicken pox. And my husband had a demanding job that required him to be gone 60-70 hours a week – so not much relief there.

My days were spent feeding the hungry, unclothing the sick (because they all felt better without most clothes on), giving drink to the thirsty, providing a clean, nurturing home for these uncomfortable children, and spending my days just being with them – holding them in their feverish state, reading to them, listening to them with steady eye contact, hugging, and nurturing them.

Even as I write this, I’m filled with emotion. I can’t remember so much in my life about so many details of daily living, but I do remember the gift of those glorious eight weeks. I was fully alive then – loving and serving my children and my God in the role for which He created me.

I also remember clearly the two years that my husband, Michael, had stage III colon cancer. I remember the friends who cared for us in so many ways, and the gift God gave me of caring for Michael. He and I resolved from the first day of the diagnosis that we were going to trust God, be cheerful, and be present to our children creating a home environment that, although had inevitable concern about the future, was choosing to be positive, fun, and full of laughter.

Find the Bright Side of the Corona Quarantine

In the face of the unknown and uncertainty that the corona virus brings to our lives, I want to encourage and challenge you to not give in to the panic. Don’t give in to the worry or the stress. Embrace the challenge, have a positive, cheerful home and resist the temptation to be stressed, overwhelmed, and chaotic.

Mindset is everything. (If you haven’t already read this post, here are some thoughts on the power of mindset.)

Steps to Thrive During the Corona Virus Quarantine

Spend More Time in Prayer –

Most churches are open during this time, although the mass is not being celebrated. Take the children to visit Jesus. Teach the children to ask Jesus for help during this time. “Johnny, ask Jesus to help you to be patient or kind when you don’t feel like it.” “Mary, ask Jesus to be with all those who are sick.” Etc..

YOU spend more time in private prayer. A change in circumstances is always hard. Virtues are not either given or not given. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you grow in virtue and be more patient, more cheerful, more positive.

Truth Bomb: I am convinced that God called me to homeschooling so that I would grow in virtue – the benefits to the children were secondary.

Enjoy the Time with Your Children –

Why are we always in such a rush to get to the next thing? We are so focused on where we have to be and when we have to be there that I’m not sure we’ve actually considered if we even want to go – wherever ‘there’ is. We’re all on this racing walkway (like the kind in the airports) and can’t get off. Well, the racing walkway has been stopped and many of us must now figure out how to stop and slow down our bodies and brains.

The children want to stop. Take it from an ‘old’ mom of 7. Children thrive in an unhurried life. Somewhere along the line we were convinced, or have convinced ourselves, that they needed to play all the sports, and be involved in every opportunity that was presented to them.

They just want to be – be with themselves, be with their siblings, be with their parents.

You may disagree with that as you’ve dealt with your children now for the last week. But just ‘being’, unhurried, without tech distractions is only a matter of adjusting. When children are used to constant stimuli, they have to get used to the quiet. Like the walkway that suddenly stops. Our bodies jerk forward not anticipating the stopped motion. It won’t take long, but there will be an adjustment phase for all in the family.

It’s like giving up sweets or caffeine for Lent – it’s very difficult at first, but then your body adjusts, your mind settles down, and you begin to feel better – even better than when you had 3 cups of coffee a day.

Challenge Yourself and Your Children to Use this Time Creatively –

Although homeschooling provided an excellent opportunity for the children to learn well, bond with siblings, and have more mom/dad time so as to become best friends with our children, I’m certain if you asked any of our children they would say the best part of homeschooling was the opportunity to be creative.

To learn/make Lego movies, write books, learn the violin, cello, piano, flute, saxophone, and guitar.
Draw amazing comic books and pictures
Make a complete chess set out of clay
Play ‘home run derby’ out in the backyard
Set up blanket caves under tables, chairs, etc..
Write plays and film movies giving each sibling a character
Play hero clicks with your siblings until you were called for dinner
Start an aquarium with puffers, mickey mouse fish, and all other sorts
Create a recipe book of all your favorites that your mom still has 😊
Make a rolled paper, life-size Tyrannosaurus Rex that you hung from your ceiling

It’s all in the mindset, my friend. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Is it all going to be happy and light and dancing butterflies all the time? No, we’re all human and we’re going to make mistakes in the way we treat each other. But what a great time to work on consistency in treating each other well.

Make the most of this time so that thirty years from now, you’ll remember ‘that great time we bonded as a family’.

With my prayers-

Janet