noun, singular — Familyvert. A person who likes hanging out with his/her family a lot. “Man, I must be a familyvert because I’m having so much fun spending all this time with my family during this stay-at-home order!”
Weird, right? I’m sure you’ve heard about introverts and extroverts. Until this pandemic, I had always considered myself an extrovert. When the shut downs started happening, I assumed I wouldn’t be able to handle it due to my love of being around people…but then it became very apparent, I am a familyvert. I LOVE spending all day, every day with my people. Do they drive me nuts? They sure do! But our hot mess time together has been awesome. I realized one reason it has been going so well for us is because of all the “dooms day” prep we had apparently been doing long before this happened. I bet you’ve been prepping, too!
No doubt this is an overwhelming time for all in so many ways, especially if you don’t consider yourself a familyvert. There are millions of articles out there telling you how to play more, craft more, bake more, learn to sew, etc. Trying to keep up with all of it is exhausting. List after list telling you to do better and be better and even parent better.
But why? Just look at what you already do! And believe me, Momma, you already do so very much!
Before you were stuck at home, I bet you played games with your children, right? Now you have time to play a little longer or play another round. Before you were forced to stop going to the park, I bet you played in the yard. Now, you can play outside just a little bit longer or walk just a little bit farther. Before there weren’t restaurants to go to, I bet you still cooked at least once a week. Now you might have extra chefs to help or you can add dessert to the menu.
Being stuck at home has given us the opportunity to do more of what we were already 
doing. Don’t stress about adding more or filling up the empty schedule with something random like homemade soap day — although that one sounds cool! During this time, I encourage you to pick one new thing to try, but focus more on building the traditions and routines you already had in place. Don’t compare yourself to the person who posted the pictures of how she taught her kids Mandarin and how to play the piano. When you feel yourself about to compare, look at the awesome things you are already doing and the quality time you are already spending bonding with your children.
You may not be a familyvert like me, but you are doing enough. Your people notice, and they love you for it!
