The first two weeks of Coronavirus quarantine did not drastically disrupt the natural rhythm of our family. I can’t articulate why except to say we are home almost always anyway.
We have never engaged our daughters in social activities outside of church or school. There’s a reason, and one day I will tell that story, but it’s not relevant for this writing.
To compensate, our home and the kids’ contributions to it are fairly relaxed. Our playroom looks like the North Pole exploded. Bedtime is “ish” on the weekends. We eat pizza and chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese, well, a lot.
I want home to be fun.
I make movie nights extra-special with a smorgasbord of snacks: air-popped popcorn, M&Ms and cotton candy. I decorate the house to reflect a movie title or theme. Friends have commented on my social media pictures, and I joke that if I’m going to hold the girls hostage at home I had better keep them happy.
As I tucked my oldest, Abby Kate, into bed one night this week I told her we would drive to Birmingham soon to see my mom. She loves Bidee’s house (cable TV!) so I was surprised when her finger drew a pretend tear down her face and she said “But I don’t want to leave our precious house.”
She is clearly social distancing just fine.
Bidee’s house, the home where I grew up, was fairly relaxed, too. My brothers and I had to make our beds and keep reasonably clean rooms. But outside of summer, we didn’t have regular chores.
We weren’t rich (coal miner’s daughter, remember?) but Christmas and birthdays brought pretty good presents. Our screen time was Super Mario Brothers on the original Nintendo game system. The 7-foot-long G.I. Joe U.S.S. Flagg aircraft carrier took up half of our playroom and, before tomboy completely took hold, I had a substantial Strawberry Shortcake collection. (I was never a Barbie girl in the Barbie world.)
Home was fun.
We learned today growing Coronavirus concerns will keep schools closed. We will be home a lot longer. I don’t know what to do except to keep creating fun.
And if or when the natural rhythm of our family is finally disrupted, I will remind myself that this world is not my home.
“For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Therefore let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name. And don’t forget to do good and share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.”
(Hebrews 13: 14-16)
