I am having a great pandemic. Yes the news is devastating and the socio-political uncertainty is terrible but I am so happy to have this time with my kids, to organize and get things done that I've put off, and to get to do the work that I love in solitude. My DCs are happy in the pandemic too and are thriving. I am relieved to be able to do all of my meetings, medical appointments, etc etc on Zoom. Saves so much time. I am sleeping, exercising, cooking, doing art. And also I am a social person: I'm on committees, go to galas, do favors, etc. A relief from these things has been such a blessing. I will definitely rework my priorities when this all ends. Anyone else?
It seems that you're really good at being in the moment. Day to day things are good for me, but I'm very anxious about the uncertainty. I could benefit from being in the "now" a bit more.
I understand. Planning is my main coping skill. Once I let that go I was able to latch onto other coping mechanisms. Mostly escapist stuff but also meditation and exercise to keep the thoughts balance. And also I VERY JEALOUSLY guard my thoughts against the negative. GL to you. It's a process. And I am 50 years old, not sure it would have been the same experience for me one decade and lots of work ago...
I'm so thrilled not to have to deal with anyone or anything but my kids are falling apart. I think returning to school will be great for them and a disaster for me.
How old are your kids? I feel like I have to deal with so much with remote learning.
Oh, remote learning was horrible for my ES kids. But I love not dealing with drop off, no chit chat, no organizing playdates, no fundraiser BS. Turns out I really, really hate people.
LOL!
I feel all those benefits you describe, with one big exception: My kids are miserable and not well-served by online school.
exactly. for the kids with so little interaction it's not good for them
It seems like you are, as others have said, good at being in the moment. I am a home body: I like to cook, and putter around the house. I am currently obsessed however at how very epically our country is tanking and how all foreign national friends and international (mixed) families are trying for a plan to gtf out of the US.
Hello from the other side (not adele, just me). Ok, I'm your opposite. 100% single mom with a demanding job and highly anxious kid. From my viewpoint I say 'Do NOT feel guilty!' I wish I had your great set up. I don't and I will make my lemonade out of my situation. But if I think you should in no way spend time feeling guilty. Embrace your great circumstances. Good for you! If you want to do a little penance, find a single mom friend of yours and watch her kid one afternoon so she can go on yet another pointless zoom call in peace. Yay you!
OP here: that's a really good suggestion. Thank you. And good luck to you.
I'm basically fine too. Not really happy to be so isolated but DH and I are both WFH and work has been super busy so that's a good distraction. One DC who is an introvert and says he loves quarantine, so we don't even have kid issues. Feel very guilty as I know 99.9% of people are not ok, and it's just dumb luck that we are, nothing special about us.
I’ll never go back to the office. I plan to continue to WFH until I retire. Remote learning has been fine for my HS kids too. As far as they’re concerned, they could continue with remote learning, and just socialize with their friends outside of school.