I am having a really rough time. A really rough time. The highs are there, sure, but everything is shadowed with despair. And the lows are… Well. They are low. (Not yet low enough for me to break into my Emergency Ice Cream, though. Let’s not think about how low that threshold is.)
Here are some good things:
Carla and I went for a neighborhood scavenger hunt. I “laminated” the list with packing tape, so that we can do it over and over. (I am imagining venturing into different areas of our neighborhood, rather than marking off the same across-the-street red door over and over.) (I also took notes on our walk of other items for another list, so that we don’t get bored.)
We did not find a single squirrel OR a baby in a stroller.
Target delivered my Oreos and I promptly ate six of them with a glass of milk.
One of nature’s perfect food combinations.
The lettuce we planted last week is ALREADY SPROUTING! Sprouts are a long way from nice fluffy edible lettuce leaves, but it’s a good start.
What’s making your day brighter today?
I love your scavenger hunt list.
I had heard that people were putting teddy bears in their yards/windows for kids to find, and I thought “Huh, that’s a nice idea but I’ll bet no one will do it”—and we are seeing SO MANY TEDDY BEARS on our walks! It makes me feel the way I do on Halloween, when it is just SO TOUCHING that strangers will participate in this thing just for the joy of the community’s children.
I went back and forth and finally impulse-ordered a box of See’s Candies—which was shipped right before they SHUT DOWN AND REFUNDED ALL NON-SHIPPED ORDERS. And it is supposed to come today! I am so happy about that!
Also, since going off keto, I am taking SO MUCH JOY in food. Everything is so DELICIOUS. I had tacos, and the tortillas!! and the rice!! and the chips!!! Oh my god, so delicious.
I saw teddy bears yesterday, and just thought they were adorable! Now I know why and will participate! Thank you!
And the scavenger hunt list is great. We are all in this together while separate. I keep comforting myself with that when I want to stress about my son’s schoolwork or cancelled trips. It oddly makes me feel less anxious to know that this is a globally shared experience.
Also, I am really sorry you’re having a rough time.
Ditto to the lows ☹️. Without being too annoyingly Pollyanna-ish (although, of course, if one had to choose it would be better than the other direction), trying to find tiny upsides has to be the way to go. Last week for me it was that it was nice enough weather-wise to be able to dry sheets outdoors on the line – small but I’ll take it!
I am truly sorry that you are experiencing such an overall low feeling right now. I am keeping very busy and trust that this will all be over before too long and trying to make the most of the not working time and the family time (still doing my fair share of yelling and ordering people to do stuff, of course – my house is over-run by teenagers and other knuckleheads after all). I am working out really hard and long everyday – like an hour and a half to an hour and 45 minutes, which always makes me feel accomplished, and tired. Plus, it makes me sleep well. My kids meal making has been a great source of entertainment along with family games like Balderdash that have us busting a gut laughing. I hope to feel re=charged when this is over. Love your scavenger hunt list.
I think what I need are ways, like your sweet scavenger hunt, but for my older kids, to BOOST this quarantine into more than just surviving through it. More “busting a gut” and kids’ meal-making, like Ernie suggests. YES. More cake-baking — today I have an impulse to make my husband’s favorite Texas sheet cake. I think that as soon as I close up my laptop, that is what I’m going to do. Pretty sure I have all the ingredients (though it uses a lot of butter, which is kinda scarce lately… still, might be worth it…)
Sending hugs – I’m sorry the lows are low. I truly love your scavenger hunt idea – and the milk and cookies. These days are tough – some more so than others. The fact that we are all in this together is slightly comforting to me; it makes it a tad bit better knowing that it’s not only me that is dealing with this.
Oh Suzanne, I had a really hard day yesterday. Your post made me feel much less alone, and I took joy in your happy things. So, that’s what’s making me happy. xo
So sorry you’re having some rough days- they seem to be going around! I think knowing we’re not supposed to be our happiest, most joyful and productive selves while struggling under quarantine during a pandemic helped me. I go through phases of up to down times… and I feel that’s eminently normal, honestly. You’re doing your best. As are most of us. You just keep on keeping on and enjoy them there carbs and sweeteners, you.
This week has been really hard for me – maybe it’s just all sinking in that this is our new normal for the foreseeable future, and reading stories from healthcare workers about what it’s really like on the front lines. It’s so scary. I hope you’re able to protect your mental health right now. <3 Milk and Oreos have become my coping mechanism as well.