Pandemic 2020

Pandemic 2020

This is how we will always remember this time in our lives. When at first it was supposed to be a couple weeks, it is turning into “no real end in sight”. We’re trying to stay positive in order to keep going, but it is overwhelming to think of many more days of social isolation and working from home at the same time as caring for three very active children.

Isaac was loving staying home with us, but has finally admitted that he misses school. He has been a bit of an emotional wreck – desperately missing the rough and tumble play with other 4 year olds – even though he doesn’t understand that he misses it. Having to adapt to the babies’ schedule has not worked all that well for him, especially since they switched from two naps to one nap in the middle of all this. Isaac looks forward to his “movie time” while the babies’ sleep, which is the only way that we get any work done. We each take turns watching the kids alone, while the other works for a couple short hours – however neither one of us is cut out for full-time parenting on our own! This situation is testing our patience, our tempers, and our creativity for managing on our own.

Cadence and Asher are having the time of their lives – minus the stress they must feel exuding from us. They are complete mirrors of Isaac, and immediately try everything he does as soon as he does it, including climbing onto counters/tables, climbing fences, biking, scootering, hiding, climbing the stair railing, etc. And Isaac has become increasingly monkey-like! The backyard gate can no longer keep him in, and he’s been caught trying to get over the top of the fence. Every time we turn around, someone is up high someplace and needs to be removed.

Luckily, part of the mimicking behavior has copied some useful skills too, and Cadence especially is always trying to dress herself, or clean the floors and tables, and even tries to help change Asher’s diaper. She is always making sure everyone has their proper shoes or bibs or hats etc.

The house is a disaster to say the least.  All three kids are constantly carrying things from room to room – but they all have their specific things. Cadence carries shoes. She has many hand-me-down shoes in various sizes waiting to fit her, but they have all migrated from the storage box in her room to every nook and cranny in the house, as well as the middle of the floor! Asher is in love with soft blankets and toys, and has taken on a Linus-like requirement to be carrying a soft blanket everywhere he goes, dropping it wherever and picking up another one that was previously dropped there. He even takes them outside. Isaac is in full destruction mode these days – and just litters whatever room he’s in with toys and books as he kicks things out of his way or just scatters everything around him. The couch cushions are NEVER on the couch, and he gets joy out of clearing all surfaces onto the floor like a little Tasmanian devil going through each room.

The nicer weather is our only saving grace, with outside being the only really manageable place with all three at once. They have figured out how to get their own water from the rain barrels and love playing on the swingset or just exploring the backyard. We also go on several bike rides a day.

Pandemic moments:

• Lindy running out of the house yelling at a messenger guy taking a package off the porch, before Jon was able to confirm that he had requested the messenger to pick up the package…Lindy reads too many mail-theft reports and has gone a little crazy over the past few weeks.
• All 3 kids bleeding on separate occasions over a span of a few days. There are many unsupervised moments in our house these days.
• Isaac learning to ride a peddle bike!! And then falling head first over the handle bars and breaking his helmet, but kept all his teeth! He got right back on the next day, and has mastered going down the hills, peddling standing up, taking a hand off the handle bars, taking both feet off the peddles, and is trying new tricks all the time.
• Cadence’s first word is “UH-OH!”
• Cadence learning to ride the scooter on her own.
• Isaac sitting with Lindy while she’s working, and sees a mugshot, and asks “Mommy, is that person making bad choices??”
• Cadence climbing up to standing on the two person teeter-totter swing by herself, and mastering the big kid swing.
• Asher learning sign language!
• Asher doesn’t seem to need as much attention and plays very well by himself. He makes himself known when needed though, with a blood curdling scream.
• Isaac really taking on a big brother role, and “watching” Cadence and Asher for us. Sometimes.

So we are barely hanging on. Everyone taking their turns having meltdowns. We are considering trying to hire help if this continues for much longer – and expand our bubble a bit. We enjoy the occasional zoom chat, or social distance drink with neighbours, friends or family to get a bit of sanity but it wears off quickly! Without any breaks, it is hard to enjoy the very special family time that this could/should be. We have so many things to be thankful for (a backyard, our health, financial stability, etc) so it is a constant struggle to focus on the good things among the frustrations. Hopefully this will soon be all a distance memory and life will be back to whatever the “new normal” will be.