It is funny, I usually love staying home, I'm never bored...never really feel the need to go anywhere and have plenty of hobbies to keep me busy inside. But now, I even have tired of online shopping already. Now that is just crazy! But being forced to stay home without options is a whole different ball of wax isn't it? Which proves that most of the mental stress of being in quarantine is MENTAL. It doesn't feel restful it feels trapped. We have to remember, when our lives were busier than we wanted it to be...working too many hours and too many hours away from home, running all over the place with errands or kids activities etc...remember when you just wanted to be home? Just relax, watch TV, not see anyone...chill! SURPRISE! Here it is! This will all be over and in our past, eventually, and I bet a lot of us will be saying..."I wish I could have just enjoyed that time at home instead of stressing about all the what ifs". Don't waste this time given that you didn't have a week ago to get some of those things you fantasized about off your list. Think of those that aren't home...that wish they were. Grocery store employees, doctors, nurses, delivery people and I am sure I am missing someone but try to remember you are safe at home, remember that probably we all have food right now, today...and toilet paper, right now, today...don't worry about tomorrow it will have its own set of problems we will face when we get there and find that place of peace, right now. No amount of fretting or worrying is going to change a thing, it will just make you miserable as long as you allow it to rule your day.
I Put peas out in the garden on Tuesday. l finished up on getting lettuce, spinach and arugula all in. Next is Kale and swiss chard and starting transplants of Tomatoes and Peppers. Potatoes also, I am just going to fill old tires with soil from the garden and peat moss because I have both. That was the most successful we had with potatoes and they were easy to harvest. I always have a garden, it is just going to be a little bit on steroids this year to supplement what I have in my pantry. Kids also can be helping with this!
Kids Activities:
I homeschooled my kids as I stated before. And one of the great things we did almost every day is I read to them. They are still lovers of books as adults because of those times. I read books that were above their grade level that they would have struggled trying to read themselves but enjoyed me reading. Of course there are different age groups and the younger kids do best with Picture books...just make sure it actually has a story. Like Bernstein Bears, Amelia Bedelia, Nate the Great, Toot and Puddle, etc.
For my older kids I read Indian in the Cupboard, Tom Sawyer, All the Narnia Tale books, Beverly Cleary Books and those types of stories. Nothing quite like sitting in a chair with your kids around you and you take a trip to another land, another time with characters that you start to feel like you know with them. Since the kids are home from school, you can use this also as an opportunity to get them to draw pictures concerning the book. Ask questions about the characters... and the dilemmas that they are in. Also have your kids read aloud to you. It is great practice for them to hear themselves sound out words. They can read to you while you are making dinner or a lunch. I also would read a book that I knew was a movie and watch the movie after we were done with the book.
Remember to follow, comment if you have a question, want something clarified or want to learn in more detail something I suggested...or really anything at all or even a suggestion for another post. You can follow this blog or just come back to see what is going on at another time. Be Safe Out there!
Food:
I think that it is time to consider that this is going to be a bit longer than expected...unlike the regular flu season that sort of tapers off once it is warm. I am reeeaaalllyyy hoping that is what happens, but it looks like the expert are saying differently. So, You need to consider trying to be a bit more self sufficient. GARDEN. We used to grow almost all of our own food, raised our animals for food etc. You CAN do this. And it is proven scientific fact that there is something in the soil...some bacteria or something, that helps depression. (Yes you can fact check that) It is Spring and The seed companies sell out on normal years so before they have empty shelves like the grocery stores, go online and buy some seeds. I will tell you that Zucchini, yellow squash, green beans and cucumbers are a breeze to grow from directly planting in the ground. As soon as your last frost date rolls around. Peppers and Tomatoes are a bit trickier and you can start them in a little cup of soil on your window sill waiting till you can put them in the ground. A tomato plant will yield an amazing amount. You don't have to know how to can as long as you have space in your freezer. If the time comes that we are still here by July I will give details on how to do this. IF you have a canner and canning jars but never used them, now is the time to start. If you always wanted to learn to can, this is a great opportunity. You can probably still get these items online and you should. I know it all sounds crazy if you never considered it. Or if you don't have a yard. But you can be very successful growing veggies in pots also. Just get the seeds while you still can...Amazon also sells seeds also, just FYI. I Put peas out in the garden on Tuesday. l finished up on getting lettuce, spinach and arugula all in. Next is Kale and swiss chard and starting transplants of Tomatoes and Peppers. Potatoes also, I am just going to fill old tires with soil from the garden and peat moss because I have both. That was the most successful we had with potatoes and they were easy to harvest. I always have a garden, it is just going to be a little bit on steroids this year to supplement what I have in my pantry. Kids also can be helping with this!
Kids Activities:
I homeschooled my kids as I stated before. And one of the great things we did almost every day is I read to them. They are still lovers of books as adults because of those times. I read books that were above their grade level that they would have struggled trying to read themselves but enjoyed me reading. Of course there are different age groups and the younger kids do best with Picture books...just make sure it actually has a story. Like Bernstein Bears, Amelia Bedelia, Nate the Great, Toot and Puddle, etc.
For my older kids I read Indian in the Cupboard, Tom Sawyer, All the Narnia Tale books, Beverly Cleary Books and those types of stories. Nothing quite like sitting in a chair with your kids around you and you take a trip to another land, another time with characters that you start to feel like you know with them. Since the kids are home from school, you can use this also as an opportunity to get them to draw pictures concerning the book. Ask questions about the characters... and the dilemmas that they are in. Also have your kids read aloud to you. It is great practice for them to hear themselves sound out words. They can read to you while you are making dinner or a lunch. I also would read a book that I knew was a movie and watch the movie after we were done with the book.
Remember to follow, comment if you have a question, want something clarified or want to learn in more detail something I suggested...or really anything at all or even a suggestion for another post. You can follow this blog or just come back to see what is going on at another time. Be Safe Out there!
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