I've had multiple conversations with friends over the years about 9/11. The main question is "Where were you at when you found out about the terrorist attacks?" You remember exactly where you were, what you were doing, and what you did afterward. It was a very traumatic event for the entire country, and has had lasting effects on how we think, how we do things, and the way we live. We were forever changed!
I'm sure you know where I'm going with this. Never in my mind would I have ever thought we would be going through something as life-changing as we are right now. Yes, we've all anticipated more terrorist attacks or mass shootings. We've prepared our minds for natural disasters. And maybe if you watch shows like The Walking Dead, you've even thought about what you would do in a zombie apocalypse. I know I've thought about those things. However, never in my mind would I have thought that we would live through a time where a virus wreaks havoc on our entire world, causing everything in life to be put on hold, and basically shut down the world. Where were you when you found out the first case? How are you handling it? What is your life like now?
Small mentions of the virus happening in other parts of the world were mentioned in January, and then talk about the first US case in February. However, the first case in the US was on January 21 in Washington State. This person had recently traveled to Wuhan, China. At first everyone thought it was a virus that could only be transferred from animal to person, and then changed to "limited" transfer from person to person.
Over the month of February, cases started spreading here in the US. More information started coming out about the transfer from person to person, and the immense challenges that China and Italy were facing (too many cases, not enough hospital beds and ventilators, and many deaths).
So what is Coronavirus? Covid-19 is a new disease caused by the Coronavirus the emerged from China in December of 2019. The symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. It can be passed from person to person, can be diagnosed with a nose swab, and has no vaccine. Some cases are mild and some are severe. It is unknown how each person will individually react. The treatment can often include supplemental oxygen and ventilator support.
At first, we were told to not worry. We were told that this would most likely stay in other countries and have a short life here in the US. However, as this virus started to spread in the US, we all became more and more concerned.
I started hearing more and more about the concern for individuals with compromised immune systems and other health challenges such as diabetes, heart conditions, and breathing challenges. They also spoke about the concern for the elderly. I started thinking more and more about the concern for Macy. I was concerned for my grandpa and my parents. I was concerned about myself and McKenna as well due to our asthma. The virus is new and unknown and SCARY.
On Friday, March 6th, I was sitting in my classroom with one of my high school students who helps on Fridays. My class was at related arts class, and I was working and chatting with my high schooler. She looks down at her phone, and then said "Oh my gosh, we have the first case in Indiana!" We had a few minutes before picking up our students from related arts to turn on the news and take a peek. That is when I got very concerned. It was hitting very close to home at that point.
At some point over that weekend, I told my teaching team that I really just wanted to be at home, safe in my bubble. A bubble that my family has spent a lot of time in before. See, this may be new to some people, but we've practiced this many times before. We often isolate our family before Macy's surgeries, or during illness. Actually, we spent 2 weeks last year in March in isolation following a flu diagnosis before her big liver surgery scheduled in April. My bubble is safe.
When we returned to school on March 9th, I spent my first 20 minutes of class discussing hand-washing and appropriate measures we can do to protect everyone at school. Schools are like a petri dish, especially kindergarten students. They cough without covering, they use their hands as tissues, and they don't wash their hands properly because they want to be out of the restroom as quickly as possible so they can be the first in line.
As the week progressed, more and more cases were noted. The staff at school began talking about the fact that we might not return to school the next week. Sports were starting to cancel such as the NBA, the Masters Tournament, the N.C.A.A., etc.
On Thursday, March 12th, I sent my car riders to the gymnasium for dismissal. I placed my bus riders on the school bus. I gave them all my same goodbye, just like I do each day. I said "I'll see you tomorrow!" Little did I know, I was actually saying goodbye to them without even knowing it.
I went home right after school that night, and hopped on the treadmill. I was training for the Indianapolis Mini Marathon. As I was running, my phone started going off like crazy! The governor was Live and discussing the cases in Indiana and closed all Marion County Schools in Indianapolis effective immediately, and they would be closed until at least April 6th. I could not believe what I was hearing. That was the moment when I knew how serious this was, and that I needed to protect my family.
After dinner that night, Jeremy and I headed to Meijer. Friday is normally grocery day, however I was afraid to wait until Friday because I had been hearing for the last week about people shopping like crazy and hoarding items such as toilet paper, meat, hand sanitizer, etc. Meijer was insane. We got enough meals for a couple of weeks. Knowing we didn't want to get out of the house to go get more if we didn't have to. We couldn't get toilet paper while at the store, the aisle was bare. As we waited in the long line that ran down the aisle toward the back of the store, I told Jeremy to go back and check the aisle. Thankfully they had just brought out another big box, and he grabbed a pack. Not 2 packs, not 4 packs, not 6 packs, he grabbed 1. It was insane what people had in their carts. I get it, but seriously people!
Our district had implemented eLearning the previous year for inclement weather or closings. eLearning is learning that can take place online when the school has to close. We also have paper packets available to families that don't have internet access. Our tech integration specialist in our district made this all possible, and we are so thankful for her and all of her hard work. When schools started closing, it was shocking to see all of the districts that had no plan. Thanks to her, we had a plan, and it was easily put into place.
We did eLearning lessons starting immediately (March 13-20). March 21st, started our scheduled Spring Break. Spring Break for us lasts until April 5th. Our plan was to return on April 6th. Well, the news was changing daily. More cases here in the US, more deaths, and more and more things being cancelled and shutdown.
Universities declared online learning for the rest of the year and told students they needed to move home, schools closed, restaurants were told they could no longer have dine-in service (only take-out), etc. Life was changing on a day to day, hour to hour basis. We all waited by the TV around noon to hear President Trump speak (along with his team of specialists). In Indiana, we waited again by the TV in mid-afternoon to hear Governor Holcomb speak about our state specifics.
On March 19th, Governor Holcomb made more changes. Our state of emergency was extended another 30 days. Indiana schools were set to remain closed through May 1st. We were up to 56 cases in Indiana, most of them in Marion County. Our first death was on March 16th, and by March 20th we had 3 deaths total. In his speech he said something to the effect that it would take a "miracle" to get our students back into school before the end of the year.
My heart completely broke! This was the time that so many people realized that life was completely changed. College students heart broken about not finishing out their school year in the normal "college life" ways. High School seniors know they can't finish out their senior year sports and activities, and may not even get to have a "real" graduation. The same goes for college seniors! Eighth graders who will miss their first "real" dress-up dance. Pre-K and Kinders who might not get to "graduate". So many kids in general who are missing out on all of their normal activities and sports. Parents who are home because their job is closed. Many who are not getting paid now, and they are now "teachers" at home. This is a first for many in their lifetime, and I pray it's the only time it ever happens.
We quickly had to adjust to a "new" life. I have been an educator for 17 years, and know the importance of a schedule. We started a schedule in our house. Our initial schedule involved academic time(eLearning), accompanied by creative time, outdoor time, educational app time, quiet time, free time, and chore time. We also have implemented daily family walks 2 times a day with the dogs. We go once in the morning, and once in the evening. Our dogs are loving it, mostly. Penny is so out of shape that I think its really wearing her out.
After our last week of school, we switched to a "spring break" schedule. This was partially the same, but I replaced the eLearning time with physical activity time. I keep reading about people posting that they aren't going to make their kids live by a schedule, and they are going to just let them be kids. Well, this is the first time in a long time that my kids have gotten to just be kids! However, they aren't constantly saying "I'm bored" and "What can I do?" The schedule has allowed them to organize their time better. When it's creative time, they choose what they want to do. Some days they paint, other days they do crafts, and sometimes they cook. It's been amazing to see all of the new things they are learning, and how much fun they are having.
Don't get me wrong, we miss school! I miss my students, and I want them to be at school learning from me. I want them to be interacting with each other. My kids miss their friends too, and they'd love to go somewhere other than our house and our neighborhood.
However, we have completely embraced this "new" life. It may never happen again in our lifetime. This is a new life where "time" is not a factor. We can't say that we don't have "time" to cook a nice meal and "time" to eat it as a family. We can't say that we don't have "time" to take that long walk around the pond or on the trails. We can't say we don't have "time" to workout. We can't say we don't have "time" to go for a bike ride, play a game, or have a movie night together. We can't say that we don't have "time" to teach our kids new things. We have all the TIME in the world right now! We really need to make it count!
Our girls are finding joy in the simple things in life. The other day I watched them skip down the trail in the woods behind our house. They were so happy just skipping away next to each other! They found joy in riding their bikes around the cud-a-sac in circles. They found joy in painting rocks, making pot holders, and cooking scrambled eggs. Family movie nights and family game nights mean so much to them right now! They spent hours walking laps around the ponds in our backyard, and even saw a deer jump up from the woods and run. They were beyond excited!
I know these are hard and uncertain times, however, we have also been given a gift. A gift of "time" with the family. "Time" that we will never have again! "Time" to enjoy the small things in life and really get a chance to come out stronger and better afterward!
As of March 25th, our state has been placed on a complete lock down. One essential travel is allowed, meaning work, medical care, food, and exercise. Unfortunately some people still don't understand the magnitude of what this virus is doing, and they are still doing things that they probably shouldn't be doing. They are not staying home and practicing social distancing (6ft away from others, no groups larger than 10 together).
To date in Indiana, we have about 645 total cases and 17 deaths. We have over 85,000 cases in the United States and over 1,00 deaths. We have the most cases in the world, bypassing China and Italy yesterday. It's scary what we are facing! The experts are saying that it's going to keep climbing and get worse. The hospitals are running out of space, they don't have enough personal protective equipment for the doctors and the staff, and they don't have enough ventilators that the patients need. The doctors and nurses are being worked overtime and scared to death that they are going to get the virus themselves or give it their own families.
Jeremy will continue to work from home until otherwise told. He's been home since March 16th. He has his office set up in the dining room, and he hides in the bedroom for conference calls. He works from 7:30-3:30 each day and breaks at noon for lunch. The girls will start back with eLearning on Monday, April 6th, and I will be back teaching as well. We will continue that for the whole month of April. Macy will do eLearning M-W, and then have class online Th-F on a website called Zoom. It's a video chat forum. I am planning on doing Zoom lessons with my students as well, but they will be voluntary. I just want to see their sweet faces and let them know that I am still here for them, and that I think about them every day!
It's such strange and unknown times we are currently living in. Schools sit unused and locked up, businesses are hanging "closed" signs, and the streets in downtown cities sit empty. I am not sure exactly how to end this post, because all of this chaos created by this virus is far from over. Each day we receive new information, and new guidelines. For now, we are staying home. We are protecting ourselves, the ones we love, and the vulnerable. We will continue to navigate this new life, and know that we will never again be the same. Thanks for checking in on us!
No comments:
Post a Comment