It seems a good integer to provide an update of 2020 as we approach January 2021. This past year started off as a normal(ish) year- the first quarter anyway. But as that first quarter drew to a close, the United States was affected by Covid-19. I remember it being around my husband's birthday mid-March that the kids were sent home from school and our jobs closed. I was sent home to perform my Property Manager's duties from home and in another state. My husband's lab was closed until mid-summer. By May, I moved to a new company in Rhode Island and worked on the site. This was working out great until late August when it became apparent that my 12-year old son's school was not opening in-person but rather would have the kids schooling remotely from home. This was a level of autonomy for which my son was not capable of achieving, and put me in a pickle with my new workplace.
Meanwhile, my daughter had no senior year of high school, a remote "graduation ceremony" and then was about to start college online. She despised every minute of it and I empathize. What a year for her. By December, she had decided to postpone freshman year for a time when she can go to the school in person. She continued to work at her job for approximately 28 hours a week and is saving her money for a better time to use it.
I was in the position where I needed to make a change with my son's education on the line. I found out from my employer that I was eligible for a government program called FFRA (Families First Relief Act). I decided I would take advantage of the opportunity and so took a leave of absence from work to stay home with Alex and lead his schooling. I received an incredible amount of support in doing this from all parties involved. The school, my son, the two dads, the therapist, my family and friends- all did what they could do be a part of improving the situation, even if only as cheerleaders and emotional support. Alex did prosper with assistance.
Unfortunately, as Thanksgiving approached here in Rhode Island, the Covid-19 numbers began to spike. More and more cases of Covid-positives were published. More of our friends fell sick. Some died. It was awful. In addition to Covid-19, other illnesses common to people were prevalent, for example our aunt had a heart attack on Thanksgiving day. So many people dealing with so much. My children's dad tested positive for Covid-19 although he was asymptomatic. This resulted in my son and his father being in quarantined for three weeks which was the most awful experience for me. We hosted Aunt Jean's granddaughter during that time for one week, allowing her to have a visit with her grandmother who's health has been rocky these past few months. On 12/23/2020 my son was finally able to return home. Christmas felt like a blur...as if all of the pressures and stresses of the past few months just landed on me. I have been feeling ill for about a week now and not sure what the source.
So where does this leave us all?
Jamie seems happy at his work. He has friends and hobbies and a pretty decent life. He has a large garage, auto projects and pretty much anything he wants. Annika works a part time job and has a nice space to enjoy her creative hobbies with. She doesn't have a social life because of the shutdown of group activities and school, but she manages to keep herself busy. Alex enjoys his downtime to play video games online with friends and chat with them while exploring their Minecraft worlds and such. I have been spending more time in my Home Studio, attempting to refine the space. It always feels that the needs of may family keep me from getting to it. Also, my FFRA benefits ended at Christmas. My job wanted me to come back on 12/28/2020 but not only does my son continue to need me, the three weeks of Covd Quarantine have set him back SO FAR, that upon his arrival home, school was coming to a close and would pick up again while I would be back in my high stress job. So it was a no-go.
I applied for unemployment benefits and began applying to new jobs...hopeful that I will find one where I can have flexibility or work second shift. Anything that offers me some wiggle room would help. The holidays have been a blur. So I do apply to Property Manager opportunities as well as other office jobs. I also apply for teaching and childcare and elder-care as well as Part-time retail jobs. Honestly, ideally...I should stay home and collect until school is back to normal. At least we can pay our mortgage! I am sure that some people out there are struggling too much to do that.
All in all, it is hard to follow the Covid standards but we do what we can. With 2021 on the horizon, the best thing we can hope for is that by this time next year we will be back to roaming the malls and going to concerts in crowded stadiums, hosting parties and visiting family without masks. But for now...it's still time to keep those plans on hold until a future time when it is safer and encouraged by the CDC. In other news- a new president comes on in two weeks and that is a regime change. I am eager to see what that brings. Mid-January will see Annika back to work, Alex back to school and Jamie back to his work following their annual closures. As for me...the future is yet to be written.
~Namaste
Lilac
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