Love in the Time of Coronavirus

There are a lot of memes circulating about a potential wave of babies being born nine months from now. They will be called “Coronials.” When they hit their teenage years, they will be called “quaran-teens.” And quarantined we are – as I type this, it’s been announced that no one should gather in groups of more than ten. With schools, restaurants and movie theatres closing, people will be even more isolated. I might wonder… rather than babies being born, what if the divorce rate spikes?

Isolation is a treat for high-functioning introverts like myself. I have a list of crafting projects to tackle. I want to write and do yoga and make huge batches of delectable food to store in our deep freezer – a treat for a busier time. But interrupting this delicious isolation is real life. The kids get restless, and with restaurants closed, dishes pile up even faster.

Here’s the thing: love. This is actually a special time. Though we are experiencing a global pandemic, families are coming together and staying put. Though there’s the inconvenience of daily life being disrupted, there will be some great stories from this. For me, it’s material. For most everyone else, these stories will be passed down at least two generations. Though restaurants are closing, people are creating home-cooked meals. Though gyms are closing, many are reintroducing themselves to the great outdoors.

Make the most of it. If your family is getting out on your nerves, get outside. If you download the app AllTrails, you’ll uncover beautiful hikes in a radius around your home. If you are home-schooling your child, teach them something more meaningful than standardized testing fodder. Whether it’s piano lessons or showing them photos of your international travels, teach them things you might not ordinarily have time for on a school night. Put them to work a home improvement project. Make them proud of the outcome and give them credit for it when you start hosting again.

And keep your immune system in check. You want the odds to stay in your favor. I posted about some health hacks on Ladles and Linens’ blog, and you should check it out. Most of all, regardless of the fear and restlessness you may feel, we owe it to ourselves to make the most of it. In the end, this too shall pass. And when it passes we’ll have to ask ourselves this: Was it a special time?