We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming for a post that seems far more appropriate for the current circumstances in our country and around the world. I’m in New York and we are all currently in quarantine due to Covid-19.

For those of you who still have to work during this time, our prayers are with you for your health and safety. For those of you who can no longer work, you are also in our prayers. If you want to check out some online business ideas, you can check out my articles on starting an Etsy Printables Shop or starting a Low/No Content Book Business.

If you are in a position where you can work from home, like me, that brings a whole new set of challenges with the kiddos around. Below are some ideas on how to divide and conquer with your spouse, things to do with the kiddos, and things to keep your sanity. Everything below we are doing ourselves over here and so far we are still sane, lol.

Divide and Conquer

I am working from home and Tyler is schooling from home. My husband is an actor and so since his theater is closed he doesn’t have much work to do. He has to keep his lines fresh for when shows can resume, but there is not much he can do beyond that work wise.

So our mornings start the same as if I had work. I get them up and dressed and breakfasted while he gets to sleep in a bit. We play for a bit and then just before 9 Tyler and I get ready for our work from home.

My hubs takes over with the girls who are almost 4 and almost 2. It’s daddy daycare, which is actually pretty much like normal for them since the baby is home full time and Hailey would only have nursery school 2 mornings a week anyway.

Tyler and I have set up our work from home office in my bedroom. We work side by side. Luckily many of the math and phonics programs that he is using, he is familiar with. So I help him read his assignments and setup the programs and he can work independently on those subjects.

While he works I work. Once he’s done a couple of subjects, he takes a break and hangs out with the girls while I trudge on. It’s amazing how much faster I can get my work done when I know that once I’m done I can play with my kiddos instead of just sitting around the office until 5.

Before lunch he’ll come back for 1 or 2 more assignments and then we all break for lunch and recess/gym class. After that we both finish up our last bit of work and then we have fun time while the girls nap . More on fun time later. This also gives Steve time to work on lines or have time to himself.

Steve and I have been alternating the lunch prep. However, dishes are all him as is dinner. This is pretty much our normal arrangement anyway. I used to make most of the dinners, but with his acting work, he usually has to leave shortly after I get home, so I would have to rush dinner. Now, he is able to have it ready when I get home so we can all eat together. So the dinner arrangement is what we are used to anyway.

This division works for us. No one gets super overwhelmed. You don’t have to follow this plan, but it’s important to divide the work in some way which is comfortable for everyone. Communicating if you are feeling overwhelmed is key. It’s a big change so it may take some getting used to.

Fun Time

Here are some ideas for fun time for some or all of your kids during this crazy time.

• Read a chapter of a book every night and then when you are done, watch the movie. In the past we have done this with Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and currently we are doing the Harry Potter Series.

• Draw with fun artists. Currently some artists are doing free drawing lessons daily during this time. We have been drawing with Mo Willems and Mark Kistler. FYI, Mo Willems is super simple and creative doodles while Mark really teaches you about drawing 3-D.

• Debbie Allen did a free dance class on Wednesday and she’s doing another one this Saturday at 11 PST for the kiddos.

• Josh Gad is reading stories to the kiddos live on twitter, bit of course you can also watch the playback.

• Play catch outside

• Do a puzzle together or play a game together

• Have a family movie night, every night

• Do some fun experiments and check out The Dad Lab for ideas

• Do some arts and crafts together like spring crafts or Easter crafts

• Take a walk and play I Spy

• Set up and obstacle course with couch cushions, boxes, and anything else you have lying around

• Play House

• Color and draw

Self Care

Self care is so important especially at this time. I know that we are in close quarters, but that doesn’t mean we should stop doing things for our own care. I still meditate for 10 minutes before the rest of the family gets up. Some days I will workout on my own, other days we workout as a family. This can be a family walk or game outside, a dance party, or lifting weights together.

I take time each evening to read and I use my shower time to listen to podcasts. It’s not exactly the same, but it still gives me time to take care of myself.

We need to remember to continue to do the things that make us feel normal. For some people, that’s getting dressed and doing their makeup everyday. For others it’s using food shopping as a break from a loud and hectic home. (just make sure to wash your hands when you get home)

Whatever it is, make sure you do things for you. If you are feeling super anxious and stressed, it can be helpful to write down all the things that are making you worried. Also write down the things you are angry at yourself about (Like not heeding warnings sooner), and things you are mad at others about.

Writing it down can help you get it out of your head where it can drive you crazy. You can figure out what is actually worth worrying about, try to take action on the things you can and forget about the rest. Remember, we can only control ourselves, we can’t worry about every person who we feel isn’t taking this serious enough.

Just take it in and let it go. There’s nothing we can do about it.

If you have other ideas for fun time or self care, please share them in the comments so we can all help each other out. We may be far apart, but we’re all in this together!

Cheers,

Emily