The Covid-Quarantine

Before I say even one word about any of this, understand that I KNOW this looks very different for all of us. I know some families have both parents who have been deemed non-essential and lost both incomes. Some families have both parents who are essential, their children are home from school and the struggle to find a safe place for them during the day is a challenge. Some are working in healthcare and the fear of bringing home the virus is no joke. Some have immuno-suppressed children or elderly living within their walls and live in a daily fear of exposure. Some are teachers trying to stay connected to their students, and their own children, from home. Some were already homeschooling so the changes have been small. Some are single and the loneliness is crushing. Some are pastors trying to encourage and connect their flock through online services and devotions. Some are elderly, afraid to go out, and afraid to let anyone in. Some are pregnant, concerned about bringing a baby into this world of illness and isolation. Some situations I haven’t even thought of, and some are living a combination of those listed above. Even those in similar situations will have vastly different experiences. I can only speak and write about what I know. About my view from where I sit. And so, with that out of the way….

This is the end of week two (I think!) of quarantine for our area and I continue to flow back and forth between ‘some of this is overkill, and desiring to sanitize and isolate to the nth degree’. We are the combo family of teacher, pastor and homeschool family, so Scott is teaching from home through online means, going live on social outlets Wednesday’s and Sunday’s with bible studies and sermons, and our homeschool life has changed very little for me and the kids, in fact, it is a little less stressful having no lessons, co-op or appointments! Other than the struggle to find toilet paper, and the canceling of art and swim lessons, we are doing ok. We live in the country with our five littles so they have each other and plenty of room to run, yell and play to keep from going stir crazy, and help keep my sanity in tact. Mostly, we are just trying to not obsess for the sake of our kids, while being (age appropriately) honest with them about what is going on around us in our community, state, nation and the world. What a time in history this is.

I went through the dialogue at the beginning of this post to say, I realize this is much more stressful for some, especially in areas where the rate of infection and death is far more prevalent, and income is lacking, but for all of us, regardless of specifics, I can’t help but see this time as a very unique chance to dig in and see what God is calling you to. Perhaps He is calling you into relationship with Him through salvation. Maybe He’s calling you to fellowship, prayer and genuine quiet time with Him. Is He calling you into a deeper connection with your spouse or children? I realize some of you are working longer shifts than usual and there is nothing still, quiet or calm about this time, but could He be stirring your heart to find rest and assurance in Him? And for those who do have more silence, boredom or restlessness in your days, I challenge you to sit in prayer, to open your Bible and seek God. Start at the beginning, start in the new testament, start in the Psalms….but dig in and ask God to direct you into what He has for you. This is a time like none other in American history, don’t waste it being bored, or bitter, or afraid.

This is just life for us now, for our kids, but someday this time in history will be part of their story that they pass down to the next generations. Something they will talk about the way my Gram talked about the Great Depression. Telling stories to their grandkids about “the time there was no toilet paper, or cereal, or meat and school, church and sports were all cancelled.” Their kids will be in awe the same way Gram used to fascinate me with her stories, for instance, that shoes were a luxury that some people went without, but the fortunate got one new pair a year worn until the toes had to be cut out to make room for rapidly growing feet. Someday they will tell the story of how the doors to all their usual places were closed, and professional sports seasons were cancelled, and restaurants only offered take out and people pulled together to keep small businesses afloat, and made signs to tell friends happy birthday, and took piano lessons through FaceTime. And in the same way Gram, and others raised during 20’s-30’s, were shaped by that time in history, I wonder if we will be changed. Gram kept her shelves stocked with canned goods even after she was able to eat any of it because she was forever changed by her childhood hunger, and having to go without. Will we see with clarity, for the first time in our consumer driven lives, what is a need and what is not? Will we change our spending habits to save more, ‘just in case’ life ever shuts down like this again? Or will we allow our lives to go right back into consumerism when the shutdown is over? Will we see the benefits of time home with our families and desire to keep that alive or will we fill our calendars and fly right back into overdrive? Will we continue checking on our elderly neighbors when it’s safe for them to get out on their own, or will we once again be too busy?

I don’t know, but I wonder.

Because written expression is a big part of our homeschool, I have come up with a few pages of questions for our kids to journal their thoughts about “The Covid-Quarantine”. I have a box for each child with things I’m saving for them…I will add these to those boxes. I have boxes of memories from my childhood full of things I saved and love when I go back and read something I wrote as a child. Someday, they will have the benefit of hindsight and what history will say of this time, but to also have their own words describing what these days were like in their home, I hope, will be a neat treasure for them to share with their kids many years from now.

These are questions I’ll use here at Akin Academy to help guide my kid’s writing. My questions are mostly geared toward the younger ages of my own kids, but encourage your middle and high schoolers to write their thoughts, especially those leaving their high school days behind them with such uncertainties. Feel free to use ours, create your own, or change them up a bit, but the point is, to allow your kids space to share what their minds are comprehending of this time in their young, or not so young, lives.

I pray you are well, that you will press in for whatever it may be that God has for you, and that you are safe at home. Be blessed,

~Jules