With the whole family home, life during social distancing looks entirely different. School's out, Dad's working from home, and Mom is supposed to be taking some time off during the week that once was labeled "Spring Break," but is now just another week of sheltering in place.
In a way, it feels more like Thanksgiving. No, there's no huge feast on the horizon, and the melting snow reminds me that it's really the end of March. But I'm so thankful! This overwhelming sense of gratitude keeps washing over me, not just for the rest we're all getting, but for a family that's fun to be around, food in the cupboards, and time to catch up with friends and extended family by phone, email, and texts.
And we're reviving some of our hobbies, which brings a whole lot of satisfaction to each day. The kids are reading, cleaning their rooms voluntarily, playing with Legos, and walking the dog without being asked. I'm baking, reading, writing, and catching up on housework that had fallen by the wayside a bit during the busy school semester. Check out this No-Knead, Five-Minute Artisan Bread recipe on Leite's Culinaria. So easy and so good!
We're a family of listeners, so one fun treat has been Audible's new, free kids' page, stories.audible.com. You don't need an account or credits to listen, and there's something for every age. No, I'm not an affiliate. I just love good books!
A few of the titles offered are old favorites of mine: The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss (read by the voice of Yogi Bear); Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, read by Rachel McAdams; White Fang and The Call of the Wild by Jack London; and The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle.
There are many more audio stories, including several in languages other than English.
How are you passing the time during "Shelter at Home"?
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