How are you holding up with anxiety? Stress? Finances?
The weeks go by, one after another, all pretty much the same. We go outside, we put on some music, we eat (too much!), we shower, we sleep (badly!). I’ll admit that ever since I was laid off, we’ve been eagerly awaiting that fateful April 6th when we could file our claim and see some money come in. One less thing to stress about.
Six years of each week being just a little better than the last. My little sponge was picking up way too much of his mom’s anxiety. He missed his friends, his teachers, and swimming so much. He couldn’t wait to go play with his cousins, to see Grandpa and Grandma and Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma.
This week, things are looking up. He’s adjusting. He’s coming to terms with the situation and his new routine. This child’s ability to adapt has always amazed me. Even today, in these times of crisis and after a difficult week, it has once again proven its worth. He’s calmer, more cheerful, sleeps better, and handles his negative emotions better.
At home, we’re allowed to use bad words when we talk about the virus. We’re allowed to call it every name in the book. Just that virus, because—like in a superhero story—it really, really is a villain. It’s not about a lack of support or an unhappy childhood. There’s no need to hold back our judgment when it comes to that nasty coronavirus. It really is a big, damn stupid virus. And that lets off a little steam.
Meanwhile, spring is settling in. The birds are singing, music is playing in the neighbors’ yards, and the smells of barbecues are becoming more and more persistent (and mouthwatering!). We’re trying to enjoy it a little bit every day—to maintain a semblance of normal life despite the restrictions, the boredom of our loved ones, and that nagging fear in the pit of our stomachs that creeps up when we run into neighbors on the bike path. (2 meters, 2 meters!)
And in this semblance of normal life, our 6-year-old has learned to ride a bike without training wheels at an almost unbelievable speed. After a nasty fall and a little push, he’s now perfectly in control of his balance and pace. Total freedom. For a few pedal strokes, he forgets that life is on pause. Because he’s zooming along like the wind.