{Written while watching Indian Summers on PBS. I stumbled on this series a few years ago and I finally have the time to sit down and watch it!} Hello, friends. What a time we are living in, right? I am sitting here, wondering how you are all doing. I thought I would come check in and just see how everyone was faring. Taking our temperature, so to speak (which we will soon be doing literally once we all go back to work) It’s hard, what we are all going through right now. Not too hard to continue and not hard like some people have it, but challenging nonetheless. Lately, I am finding it more and more difficult to stay in a routine. At the beginning of all of this, I made charts and activities and I felt pretty good. The kids were in a routine, I was in a pretty good routine and the days ticked by. The longer this has gone on, however, the more out of whack I’ve become. Our routines kind of went out the window because I am trying to give everyone a little grace- my kids miss their friends and school and activities and while they sort of get what we as a collective world are doing, they are antsy and emotional. Their bedtime has slipped from 8:15 until 9:30 or 10:00 PM, their screen time use is higher than it’s ever been, but I just have to be okay with this, because right now, the rule is whatever it takes. I am awake most nights until 1:00 or 2:00 am (and I know this isn’t good, especially for my skin!), I am loungewearing all day every day, and it is all beginning to feel monotonous. We (my hubby and my kids) are completely isolating. I haven’t seen my friends or family since the end of February. We (cough me cough) are cooking most every meal at home, and I do love it, but the constant dishes and cleaning and overall mess caused by four people who aren’t leaving the house is not for the faint of heart! My family is no different from anyone else in this almost week 8 of this quarantine. If you can, I want you to tune out all the noise around you and focus on the simplicity of life. Whatever makes you feel happy and safe and satisfied now is all you need to worry about. Don’t watch what anyone else is doing and feel like you have to do the same or more. Nobody is measuring up to any standards right now- we are all doing the best we can. I included some photos below of the things I am doing right now with my family to give you some ideas and I would love to hear your ideas in the comments. We have been playing outside, have chalk art walks with our neighbors, painting and crafting and generally, being together! As always, thank you so much for stopping by and I am sending all of my love to you and yours- Sweetly, Michelle
