I don’t know who needs to hear this right now, but here goes.
Life is upside down. Kids, work, family, health, finances–everything.
Even as life-long homeschoolers, with kids who have never known a school routine in their 17 and 13 years, our usual schedule has been shredded.
Even as a family who rocked work-at-home for almost a decade, we’re a hot mess with work-life balance. Even as a family that is used to “doing it all” in many regards, it feels like we’re hardly getting anything done.
In the past two weeks (since our family began to shelter-at-home), we have yet to have a normal homeschooling day. Not one day of “table time” or math, Spanish or typing, history or the rest. No rhythm; no normalcy.
Let me say that again: We have yet to find our rhythm, and school at home is what we have always done.
Since we brought our work home, it has seeped into every aspect of our family and life, caused tension and hours of time lost before our screens, and yet it feels somehow like we’ve gotten nothing done.
Let me say that again: as experienced home-business owners, we’re falling behind.
But instead of taking ourselves to task for sucking at this new normal we’ve all tumbled headlong into, we’re baking cookies. We’re cooking down maple sap. We’re playing board games. We’re making art and walking in the woods. We’re getting by, just as best as we can.
It’s messy, it’s not ideal, but it’s us.
This is an imperfect time. So what if instead of trying to get it all done, we reach instead for leaning in with as much grace, forgiveness, and compassion as we can possibly muster? What if we make space for our and our children’s and our partner’s messy, difficult emotions, and simply take this moment to hold one another while we weep, or rage, or tremble?
What if instead of striving for perfection, we simply reach for love?
What if simply being together, validating one another’s fears, and reaching for grace is enough?
This is honest. This is beautiful. Thank you.
Such timely wisdom! Much appreciated in this moment. The silver linings are everywhere if I just soften my expectations and pictures of (my view) of perfection. I needed to hear this. Thank you! Hope you and your family stays well.
Thank you.
Thank you Rachel for your continued grace, creativity and inspiration! This was a perfect message for me to hear.
All my best to you and your family and you should consider featuring your “Shelter at Home” cookie receipe, craft ideas etc on your next post.
Kim
Sing it! ❤️
Just what I needed to hear. We talk a lot about grace but even more so these days. Gotta remember to extend it to myself too. 🥰
Thank you for this! I needed to be reminded that although we homeschool and homestead this has changed our world as much as much as anybody. And that the value is in being together, not getting math done, especially in these uncertain times in which we find ourselves. We, too, have been baking, walking, playing board games, and it was an awesome reminder that right now that is enough.
This is so beautiful, and frankly I think EVERYONE needs it right now. You may not be getting all of the “things” done, but you’re doing all the right things and putting the people first, which is as it should be.