“Time flies. They’re only this young once. Enjoy every moment. Soak it all in.”
How many times have you heard these phrases as a mom? Countless, I’m sure. For me, it always seemed like life was moving too fast, the babies were growing too quickly and there was nothing I could do about it.
And then… quarantine. Suddenly, time slowed down.
Don’t get me wrong, quarantine was not all sunshine and roses. Teaching via Google Meet, having a husband working from home, and trying to keep our toddler and infant happy and busy without leaving the house was not easy. And no grandparents or babysitters for a break! However, we made some changes and truly enjoyed a lot more time together. As life picks up again, I now have goals to make the following quarantine changes more permanent.
- More dance parties.
My toddler has a habit of wanting a dance party at the most inconvenient times. But instead of saying “no,” now I put on the Frozen 2 soundtrack and don’t stress when dinner is on the table 30 minutes later than planned. He loves it, and I do, too! - Enjoy more leisurely family walks.
Prior to quarantine, family walks were for exercise. The kids were strapped in the stroller and off we went, rushing to cover as much distance we could in the time we had. But when you have nowhere to be and nothing else to do, there’s no reason to rush home. One day, it took us an hour to make it around the block after some rain, as my toddler and I stopped to pick up all the worms on the sidewalk and move them back to the ground. If he wants to get out of the stroller and walk, I let him, pausing every 10 feet as he checks out a rock or a stick. We stop and talk to neighbors. It may not be the best exercise, but it’s so fun! - Put down my phone.
Did anyone check their screen time during quarantine? Because… WOW. After the first couple weeks, I was surprised and upset at how much time I had been spending on my phone. My husband and I focused on putting our phones away and just being more present. I quickly realized we were missing out on some really special moments – our toddler noticing something new, our infant’s facial expressions and watching the sweet interactions between the two boys. Sure, we’re better at it some days than others, but we’re missing out on a lot less now than we were before. We’re more engaged with each other, as well as our kids, and it’s wonderful.
I hope everyone looks back on their quarantine life and can find some good in it. Are there any changes you’ll be making post-quarantine?
