Items

2021-02-19

Turning 5 in 2021

Turning 5 in February 2021 means video chatting with both sets of grandparents, taking turns in separate households for the game pin the horn on the unicorn, a special cake made by the former pastry chef grandparent (not pictured), & extra presents. In February 2020 we celebrated together, in-person with the extended family. This time we celebrated virtually with everyone in separate households. (Do we dare to dream that we’ll be together in-person in February 2022?)

2021-03-04

Pandemic Video Chat with Grandparents

This has been a typical way we have interacted with grandparents since the Fall of 2020. Grandparents sent an animal bingo game. They have a corresponding game at their house. We video chat with the computer plugged into the TV. We have a kid’s table & chair set pushed near the TV as the game table. They play bingo by taking turns calling out picked cards. Using the TV helps them seem more a part of our house & seems to inspire more interaction with the kids. It also allows my 16 month old son to wander around & still interact with them..

2020-10-20

Sight words

Virtual learning has been a pain in the butt for a lot of moms. I don’t think I’ve ever related to someone when it comes to parenting like I did with this Florida mom. Although my daughter is no longer doing virtual learning here in Arizona, I do homework with her and am very familiar with sight words. It’s funny and comforting to know that I am not alone in my feelings.

2020-08-07

More outdoor time

We had to find ways to beat cabin fever, and that was hard because it was the hottest summer on record in Arizona. We took mini trips to Sedona, Tucson, and Camp Verde. We hiked and did as much outside as we could on cooler days. The kids enjoyed taking trips, because they couldn't see their friends or play with them during the lockdown.

2020-07-27

First day of school during Covid

My daughter began 1st grade at home through online learning. Her first day was July 27th, and she returned in person on September 8th. Trying to balance everyone working and learning from home was an incredible struggle, and didn't benefit anyone. Mom was working on her dissertation and taking classes, her dad was teaching high school from 8-3 each day, and she had classes with homework throughout the day. For a 6 year old who had no idea how to type, it was very hard to get everything completed. While we are glad that she is back in school, I worry about her safety everyday.

2020-06-15

Ph.D. exams in quarantine

My family stayed mostly at home through July. I began my Ph.D. exams in June and finished them at the beginning of July. I had to work in the office of our apartment complex, because I couldn't concentrate in our apartment with two kids. When the cases began to rise in July in Arizona, the governor closed bars, gyms, and water parks. As a result my complex closed the offices, and I had to scramble to find another place to work. Thankfully our professors decided to give us 2 weeks (instead of 1) to answer each question, and I passed with high scores.

2020-10-04

Kids Now Know to Ask "Are you in a meeting?"

This Tweet shows one of the major changes in our society and home lives. With so many people working from home children have learned to approach their parents and ask if they are in a meeting before saying anything else.

2020-09-30

Incarcerated Children Are Getting Covid Too

Months ago the media did report on the outbreak of Covid cases in the nations jails and prisons. Though Covid continues to spread in correctional facilities it seems to have largely fallen off the media's radar and I haven't seen any coverage of the children in correctional facilities who are also sick with Covid. It saddens me to even write this because the phrase "incarcerated children" should not have meaning.

2020-09-15

COVID Journal September 15 2020

Journal entry that records a few aspects of daily life - commuting to work, mask wearing in an office, and the COVID Symptom Study app.

2020-06-02

Picking up the pieces

The coronavirus and the Black Lives Matter movement are two of the most important things in the US right now. This photo represents both of those things and it's important to me because I'm a young black kid who wants to live safely in a community where I feel comfortable. I, just like many others, have learned a lot about the history of injustice in America towards black people.

2020-03-15

Staying Strong

A couple of months leading to the COVID-19 pandemic, my wife and I were paying off all of our consumer debt and saving for a down payment on a house to purchase in late 2020. 2019 was very stressful on us, working all the time, did not take any time off, or any vacations; we did not go out like we used to; we just worked and paid off the debt. We started 2020 debt-free, and we kept on working and saving, in March 2020, I went to Turkey for a week to visit the family that I had not seen in 4 years. Two days before my return to the United States, the president decided to ban travel from all European countries due to COVID-19. I was terrified to be stuck in Turkey away from my wife and kids for months. Thankfully, Turkey was not included, I came back to the US, and life was not as healthy as it was. The following months were some of the toughest we have been through. When the Stay at Home restrictions began in our state, my wife lost her job while I stayed employed as an essential worker. My wife stayed with the kids teaching them as schools were shut down for the rest of the school year. COVID-19 impacted us not just financially, but emotionally as well. I believe we are in a better financial situation, considering what the pandemic has done to so many people worldwide. We are in an unprecedented time, and we are all in this together, and we will get through it sooner or later. I am looking forward to what the future holds for us.

2020-08-09

Working during a Pandemic

This summer I was lucky enough to be able to work. Not only being able to work in a pandemic but with kids nonetheless. While the start of summer camp already changed, we were not able to leave our building for outside activities, and only a certain number of kids were aloud for each grade. We soon would progress to everyone above the age of six wearing a mask. While at first the kids did not understand why now they had to were the mask, by the end of summer they were used to it. This was a huge learning experience for everyone, including parents and employees. The employees are to temp check and hand washing before clocking in and doing tons of cleaning throughout the day. As well as making sure they wash their hands as well at the children. Parents cannot come inside, the kids will get temp checked at the door before entering, as well as them washing their hands upon arrival. While working now is scary because you never know what is going to happen these days if I or a coworker is gonna contract it. Every week it's a am I healthy? Are my family and friends healthy? Is my workplace safe? To be honest, working now does feel safe and weirdly so, with the constant cleaning and mask-wearing, I feel as if we are taking all the precautions necessary. God Willing, we will be able to keep this up. It a strange time we live in at the moment and by working it helps keep my mind off the scary reality we face today.

2020-03-10

Kids Crash BBC Reporter's News Segment. Ellen Degeneres Dissects the clip.

This clip is SO funny! I've watched it many times now and it seems to just get funnier. The father, in early days of quarantine, is doing a news segment for BBC news. His toddler comes marching in with flair and gusto. Then his baby son scoots in using his walker. Then the mom flies in the door, grabs them, and yanks them back out.

2020-03-23

I Choose B. Husband Picks ANYTHING Other than Quarantining With His Wife and Child

This video makes us laugh about the very thought of being quarantined with our families 24/7. This gentleman personifies how that idea strikes horror in our hearts.

2020-05-01

Plague Journal, Day 49: The Kid writes a play

I'm keeping a Covid-19 journal. In the latest entry, I interview The Kid about her experience watching her play performed by professional actors -- an experience moved from the stage to a podcast by CoronaWorld.

April 27, 2020

Plague Journal, Day 46: Regret, guilt, shame

I'm keeping a Covid-19 journal. In the latest edition, The Kid, The Girlfriend, St. Paul, St. Augustine, three rabbis, Bill Wilson, a couple of therapists and I discuss notions of guilt, shame, sin, and apology.

2020-07-03

Kid's Masks

In the case that schools return in person this fall, I decided to stock up on face masks for the kids. I realized that we'd likely need as many face masks as the kids have socks or underwear and worried that kid's masks would sell out as the school year neared. I found these super cute animal masks for the kids and they love them. I was really worried that my kids have trouble wearing masks. To my surprise, they have yet to complain about them. Although they are young, their ability to grasp the seriousness of this pandemic is truly amazing.

2020-07-21

Stopping to smell the flowers.... and focus on gratitude

Since mid-May, our 18yo son's friend has been living with us. D's mother is immunocompromised, and he needed to return to work when restaurants re-opened to save money for college in the fall. He moved in, adding a fourth teenager to our house. He is a wonderful guest and we have enjoyed having him. It can't be easy for him to live with a family that is not his own, but he handles it very well. Last week, these flowers arrived for me. D's dad and grandmother sent them (they live out of state) as a thank you for us hosting D these past months. I was so surprised and touched by the gesture. I know D and his family are grateful that he has a safe place to live while ensuring his family's health, and I appreciate that. While literally stopping my day to smell my flowers, I started thinking about gratitude, and the ways I will always be grateful to 2020: - My family is healthy, safe and together. - I realize that my son knows the value in surrounding himself with good people; getting to know his friend has been a blessing. - We were able to continue our school and work lives, even while isolated at home. Not all are so lucky. - As things re-open slowly, our lives are not returning to the crazy levels of busy that is our normal. Instead of school and practices and large gatherings, small groups of friends are coming over almost every day, and I love having a full house. - Our future plans are still moving forward, albeit in a different format. Online classes for my high schoolers and hybrid college classes for college kids. Working from home. We are making it all work. - While we haven't been having family crafting projects or other Instagram worthy activities, we have been able to connect often and easily. A conversation about politics; one about ethics; another about relationships. All of these happened organically because we are physically together. Also conversations about LeBron vs. Michael and ranking of the Star Wars franchise; not every conversation is deep. - Most importantly, I realize that the first half of 2020 was a gift: I got extra time with my kid, right before he leaves for college. I got extra time with my high schoolers that wasn't carved out of a crazy schedule. My husband and I spent time reading next to each other and doing puzzles. It would be crazy for me to say 2020 has been wonderful; it hasn't. It has been awful. However, even in these crazy and unsure times, there can be gratitude. And flowers. And Star Wars movies.

2020-04-08

Plague Journal, Day 26: Everything enrages

I'm keeping a Covid-19 journal. Here's the latest entry, in which I battle unwarranted rage, stoke warranted rage, and allow my mom's exercise regime to crack my armor.

2020-06-30

Three Months without Fast Food

Fear of COVID-19 has kept us from ordering any restaurant food, even take out or delivery, since March. Then, during the second week of June, my kids won a contest at (virtual) Sunday school where the prize was the children’s pastor delivering dinner of the kids’ choice to our house, and my husband’s work gave everyone Grub hub credit for their virtual end of the year party. Worn down by hunger, I relented and we got McDonald’s (for the kids’ prize) and Cali Tacos (from Grubhub). Not having either for so long, we may have gone a little overboard with our orders. It did take 20 minutes before we ate, because I removed all the wrappers wearing gloves, transferred the food to plates, threw all trash outside, and washed vigorously hands before we ate. It’s been two weeks, so I’m hoping it was safe. It’s a strange experience, we were used to having 85 Degrees or Starbucks at least once a week. It’s like when I was a kid and restaurant food was a special treat.

2020-04-20

Humans of Covid-19 AU: Gemma Gringlas

“The hardest part of this pandemic has been that I have had to put on hold many initial psychological assessments of kids, as they cannot be done online. Families wait a long time to get into see a psychologist and get an assessment, so it leaves a lot of parents worried about what might be going on for their child, which is really tricky. Some of the kids that I see have social anxiety or are on the autism spectrum, and I have found that telehealth actually removes a lot of the anxiety for them. These kids have difficulty being one on one with someone else, and therapeutic environments can be stressful. They’re a bit more relaxed when on screen because they’re slightly removed from me, which is really interesting. Everyone is being responsive to the difficulty of working at home. I'm trying to see my clients in the time when Teddy is sleeping. We’ve all had to learn to adapt. I am very concerned about the general mental health of people in society. People have lost connection, their social interaction, their daily scheduling, and also financial stress and uncertainty. As a society, it’s important to reach out. We need to take care of one another during this time.” Instagram post on Gemma Gringlas, clinical psychologist, and her experience during the pandemic, which was created by a psychology student living in Melbourne who was interested to hear about how COVID-19 was impacting on different peoples’ lives.

2020-05-08

Kawasaki Disease parent advocate explains the science of KD after recent fears that Covid-19 causes Kawasaki Disease.

I am a parent advocate for Kawasaki Disease. I have given talks at symposiums for parents, groups and doctors and run the Kawasaki Disease Northern California Facebook pages. Levi my son is a 2X survivor and had Kawasaki shock syndrome the first time it nearly took his life. He is 11 now and wants to help me educate the community. About a month ago doctors in the UK announced a Kawasaki like illness in children who were diagnosed with Covid-19. Since that time I have received numerous messages and phone calls from concerned community members. This video was made to alleviate fears and encourage people to donate to read watch that has begun at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.

2020-05-21

Journal May, 21, 2020

[curator's note] A personal journal entry from a mother in Michigan.

2020-04-21

Midwestern Life

We are a family of four living on a hobby farm in SE Minnesota's Driftless Area. Two kids are home from University. One will miss her graduation event and the other is in Med School doing on-line classes 12 hrs a day. The country internet is slow and nerves are fragile because of that. We've been out grocery shopping numerous times, but haven't seen any friends. It's very isolating. We've let neighbors and friends know we are available to help shop or cook and are cooking food for delivery to a homeless shelter. We have no close family and have heard from almost no one. People here seem to have closed in with their families and churches and excluded much of the outside world. Watching the news, we fear for our country. There seems to be no plan for the future, only empty political hype. - Jeff Pipes, 59, MN

2020-04-17

Journal Entry - Friday, April 17, 2020

This morning I decided to get up for the day after B., my 5 month old son who will be 6 months tomorrow (!), woke up to nurse before 7AM, spending a while I bed waking up and stretching. I woke up to start the work I needed to do for my office job. As I looked outside, new snow was falling. Again. Like Christmas morning – the idealic fluffy flakes that you see in Christmas movies. The snow had begun to cover everything. It’s beautiful – but, come on! – it’s mid April! I’m trying to find joy in beauty and beautiful scenes like this – but it’s time for Spring!

2020-04-01

Explore the Archives