What I'm Doing Now

HOME

I feel very fortunate to be able to stay home at a time like this. I'm grateful to all the medical personnel, grocery store workers and delivery workers for all the sacrifices they may be making right now.  

As a stay at home mom, that is also a homebody, I have a few tips for those that might not be used to this time at home with their children.

First, find a routine. The routine we've settled on at the moment: 

Slow wake up time - about 30 minutes and just hanging out, I drink my coffee. 

Breakfast - kids typically make their own. Their current favorite is oatmeal. 

Physical activity - I work out for 25 minutes every other day. On the off day, we try to get outside, go for a long walk, explore. 

Reading - The only planned curriculum we have is reading time. All 3 kids are their preferred reading apps. 15-20 minutes of reading. 

Free time - I find after we exercise and do reading, they play so much better and will wander off to play on their own. 

Lunch - I typically make lunch and do dishes. 

Pick up time - The kids pick up the common areas of their play items. 

Screen time - 1 hr each day they are free to watch or play what they wish on their screens. 

Snack

Free time - Typically we go outside. 

Supper time and then bed 

Second, limit the screen time. I know it's easy to increase the screen time in a time like this and by all means let yourself indulge a little. But then get back to a limit. I've found my kids are far grumpier, restless and tired when they get a large amount of screen time. 

Third, don't feel like you have to entertain and play with your kids at all times. I've found my kids play far better and more imaginatively if I'm not trying to play with them. And while I'm a stay at home mom, I don't have a personality that lends to hours of kid time. So why force it? Do your thing and let them do their thing. Drop the guilt. 

WORKOUT

Every other day. I commit to a certain program for 6 weeks and then switch it. My current program is Ultimate Barre Burn by Kimberly Adrienne. 

BOOKS I'M READING

Travels with Charlie by John Steinbeck

STORY I LOVE

From Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coehlo

Norma and the Good things

In Madrid lives Norma, a very special Brazilian lady. The Spanish call her 'the rocking grandma'. She is over sixty and works in various places, organizing promotions, parties, and concerts. 

Once, at about found in the morning, when I was so tired I could barely stand, I asked Norma where she got all her energy from. 

'I have a magic calendar. If you like, I can show it to you.' 

The following day, I went to her house. She picked up an old, much scribbled-upon calendar. 

'Right, today is the day they discovered a vaccine against polio,' she said. 'We must celebrate that, because life is beautiful.'

On each day of the year, Norma had written down something good that had happened on that date. For her, life was always a reason to be happy. 

CURRENT NORTH SHORE CRAFTS PROJECTS ON HIGH PRIORITY

The Super Punch - Find more info here

How to Punch Needle Course - Mid-point mark with filming