I’ve been a little overwhelmed, and it’s okay. With all that is going on, not being okay is just fine.
Recently, I have been helping my mom after having her foot surgery, making sure to help supply what she needed and making sure she stayed comfortable in her home. My husband and I are working opposite schedules, so we have hardly had time to sit down and catch up on day-to-day life. It’s been a real chore keeping the kids informed and happy as a whole, while explaining the severity of COVID-19 for asthmatics. So much has changed so fast and with no time to process–but we are making the best of it, and you can, too. Here are a few of my ideas, tips, and tricks.
Count your blessings.
I’m thankful God has put us on paths that have prepared us for these quickly changing times. Being in the military has truly shaped us for moments of the unknown. I’ve been blessed with a mother who has prepared me to be strong and hardworking, showing me that hard work will get you through. My husband is a blessing. He is a hardworking man, leading his family and keeping us in a tight-knit circle of security and love. Our kids are a blessing, keeping the house full of joy amid chaos into the unknown. Through it all, we are blessed and we have each other.
Schedule your days.
Although we are going into our 3rd week of homeschooling, it is just recently that I am ready to work on our homeschooling schedule, meal schedule, workout schedule, and gardening schedule. I feel like when we are in the time of unknown, a flexible plan can bring a sense of normalcy to our family unit.
For me, scheduling gives me and my family something to look forward to every day. Normally, I am a go-with-the-flow and fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type of woman, but a little schedule that isn’t set in stone helps our family stay in order.
DAILY SCHEDULE:
MORNING: 6 A.M – 7 A.M. Teeth / Hair / Shower / Breakfast / *Workout
MID MORNING: House & Animal Chores / Homework
NOON: Lunch / Freetime
AFTERNOON: Finish up Homework / Prep Dinner / Family Walk
DINNER: Animal Chores / Dinner / Final Chores
NIGHT: Teeth / Hair / Reading / *Workout / Parent Homework
BEDTIME: *Kids 8:30 P.M. / Parents 10 P.M.
*Flexible
Plan your meals — it truly saves money and time!
Monthly Meal Planning is rarely set in stone for us. We are a family that loves to cook, so we discuss what everyone is having a taste for, and plan accordingly for the week.
Here are some of our from-scratch go-tos.
BREAKFAST: Overnight oats, Cereal, Oatmeal, Waffles, Biscuits & Gravy, Pancakes, and Eggs
LUNCH IS EASY! LEFTOVERS! Okay, we all know it’s not guaranteed that there will always be leftovers. Those days consist of… sandwiches, quesadillas, chicken nuggets, peanut butter & jelly, taquitos, grilled cheese, etc.
Note: DUE TO COVID-19 the schools are providing lunches for our community. We pick these up daily and allow the kids to snack on those items. Until everything ends, our kids do not go on any store runs with us.
DINNER & SIDES: Lasagna with a salad; Tacos Spanish Rice and Black Beans; Whole Chicken, Potatoes and Green Beans; Spaghetti and Salad; Smoked Salmon Broccoli and Rice; Chili and Cornbread; Pizza
Add some activity.
WORKOUTS: 2-3 Mile Run, 30 min walk with the dogs, 30 min family walk, free time bike ride, or free time outdoor trampoline.
Find a way to add a little bit of activity to your day. It will boost your mood. Don’t forget to spend some time outdoors to get some sun.
Garden.
If you have a green thumb, try gardening. It’s a fun way to bring your family together.
Try starting with some simple cooking herbs, cilantro, basil, and parsley. They are easy to grow in small spaces and indoors or out. Make sure the pots you are using have drainage holes and sunlight and approximately six inches of soil.
If your days seem to be a blur, try a flexible schedule, meal plan, find some fun workouts, and garden, if you please. Remember that flexibility is key!
I’m looking forward to better days for our family and the world, but for now, growing closer as a family is a beautiful thing we are all in this together!
