CULTURE SHOCK

Who would have ever thought that we would experience anything of this magnitude? If many of you had to describe what is going on in one word it would most likely be CRAZY because that is what this is.

Our world has been turned right side up and now life has forced some of us to go back to the basics. Remember when family sat down and ate together, how about the times when your mother would help you with your homework at the end of her work shift, even though she was so exhausted that she could barely keep her eyes open. Tough times but nothing like this.

For the first time in our lives we are all considered the same, it doesn’t matter how much money that you have or what neighborhood you live in, your affiliations don’t count right now against something that is so much bigger than all of us, For once we are all the same facing the same fears of what is next in our life and those we hold close.

Thinking forward to a summer that will be different because the neighborhood won’t be filled with the BBQ grills that light up the streets with their aroma. Car horns won’t be drowned out by the kid’s voices echoing off the slides in the park. Family reunions and play dates will be a thing of the past until we regain some sense of security and knowing. Life as we know if has and will be changed forever. I feel like I am in a movie that just keeps going.

My prayers go out to all of those families that lost someone close to them during these tough times. There are no words that will console you however please know that angels keep praying when you are sleeping.

I also want to say thank you to all of the essential workers because without you our reality would be that much more difficult to understand and to get through.

Change is never easy we all have to get accustomed to living our lives in a very different way. . Going from being a full time student, working a full time job or having been an active part of society to being on the hurry up and wait train Is no easy task. Some people however are celebrating their new found freedom at home with all of the extras that the government has afforded us. It's unfortunate that we live in a world so entitled that even a good deed goes unappreciated. Can't please um all.

RESILIENT

Iv'e heard so many people with varying opinions, coupled by an influx of feelings associated with this virus that has swept our country. Some have said that this is a conspiracy to shed the population, some say it’s a man-made virus and the arterial motive is to create an antidote that will ultimately make those that created the antidote rich, others may believe that it is the end of the world and for some people it is the end of life the way they know it.

It took some people a while before the panic and the reality of what was happening really set in, others remain calm and welcome the extra rest and those folks smile a little harder during the day because they got to sleep in.

Parents were taken aback by the thought that they had to return to school by way of being their child’s teacher, I personally have been out of 2nd grade for well over 30 years and I wouldn’t choose to do any of it again; IF I had the choice. Kudos to the teachers out there. Thank you for the dedication to our children's success. You are appreciated.

MORE TIME PLEASE

Multitasking is still a part of my everyday doing however like everything else it has elevated to a new high. Working from home, learning to be a teacher, maintaining overall life can be pretty tiring when you are not use to it in all of its entirety.

Take the good with the bad and always try to redirect the bad to the good. Being a creature of habit is good but what does a creature of habit do when the ability to maintain their day to day doings is interrupted? Create anew, more flexible and healthy habits to keep your time and mind busy. For those of us that slip into a dark place when left alone please remember that an idle mind is the devil’s playground. If you find yourself by yourself in that part of your mind that has that "do not enter sign" on it just close your eyes and think about something else, think good thoughts, think of fun places and see the light at the end of the tunnel because there is a light. Striving for a better you is always the goal. Don't be afraid to start over because creating new habits, new places, new people and new things to explore is never a bad thing. Highlight more mommy things, more fun, more smiles, more innovation, more patience, more understanding, more self love and more self-awareness.

HUMBLE YOURSELF

The news tells us that domestic violence and child abuse has increased during these trying times and it makes me wonder why people can’t get along at a time like this, can't they see that people are dying out here. Makes me wonder if those people that are dishing the hurt and uncertainty are that rotten to their core that they can’t look past the past to truly enjoy the bit of life that we have now. When there is love present we shield those close to us from the unnecessary pains that could bring them to a place of uncertainty. You do not want to deplete an extension of yourself because known or unknown you are breaking down a vital part of your own being. It's Build up time, Not breakdown time.

It also boggles my mind to hear that a child is being abused in any form or fashion, i say if you have no patience than pray for some but do not take your fear, confusion or anger out on those close to you. We are the first defense; If our children can’t come to us than who will they go to? They look to us for guidance. It's important that you enable your children to do the right things, leading by example is a big one. Being present is huge, listening, patience, determination, an open door policy, are a few things that will help your child progress instead of regress. Support is a necessity for children.

WHAT YOU DO IN THE DARK

We all want to believe that the person that we love, loves us back in all of our glory and in all of our dirt however sheltering in place has answered some uneasy questions. Some wondering if they were ready to move forward with their relationship or whether to move away from their relationship. Everything that you do in the dark will always shine bright in the light. It's inevitable that you will learn something new or interesting about a person if you are sheltered in place with them for the first time. I hope what you learn is all good. I hope that you realize that you are still in love with the person that you are in shelter with and i hope that you do not have to deal with the pain of realizing that the person that you chose either is not right for you anymore or that you have out grown them because that is scary but in the long run it's okay. Your job now would be to take the time to get to know the you, that you are today and the you that you would like to become tomorrow but whatever you do; do not sit and sulk, live life because you just never know how much time we really have. .

UNTIED WE STAND AND DIVIDED WE FALL

My grandmother use to say that you will see a person’s true colors when you are down. I would consider the end of life for some as the world being down. If you are sheltered in place with a person that you have found to have nothing in common with or a person that you can find no common ground with than i think you need to concentrate on finding that common ground with yourself. Walking around angry is not an option, crying yourself to sleep will not make the elephant in the room go away, yelling and screaming so that a person hears what you are saying is not the answer. Breath in, breath out and than think about the fact that you can still breath, your life does not end with one door closing, it may just be your time to wake up and live and speed race through the next door waiting.

Understand that life will be different as we move forward into our new and cleaner world. I'm grateful to see another day virus free, grateful that we are able to teach our children, grateful that we are not facing Marshall Law, grateful that we have food in our pantries and freezers, grateful for the stimulus package and the extra money in unemployment and so grateful to be a mother.

Happy Mother's Day to our every day heroes.

We still have so much to be grateful for America.

Blessings and Bests

Precious Unique