Thursday, March 23, 2023

Notes on solo parenting 5 kids through a spouse’s covid isolation

 1. It sucks.

2. Like, a lot. Because not only was I doing all of the things ALONE, but, also, I was WORRIED about Ben, about Minnie and Cooper (who were with him all day Saturday), about the rest of us, etc etc etc.

3. I did not change any sheets— except Ben’s and mine this morning, after 5 days of isolation and 3 days of negative tests. HOORAY! I also washed the duvet covers (boooooo) and all the bathroom linens and bleached the bathroom so aggressively I might have ruined the countertops and the cabinet finishes. OH WELL. 

4. I might be too old to share a kid bathroom and sleep on the couch for 5 nights. SO HAPPY to move back to my bedroom and bathroom TODAY.

5. I am really proud of myself for getting everyone where they needed to go and keeping to all of our routines. I even cooked dinner every night. And! I meal planned HILARIOUSLY badly when you consider that someone was eating meals IN BED. We had spaghetti one night, meatball subs another. Ben was like “Phew, thank goodness I am out for taco night because loose meat sounded MESSY.” 

6. I was very happy with my inexpensive moisturizers both at night and in the morning. But the only moisturizing product I grabbed when I switched bathrooms was a Lancôme Renergie small-size that was in my Christmas Lancôme kit. AND MY SKIN LOOKS GORGEOUS. I have been using it morning and night even though it has sunscreen, and I think I am hitting Macy’s on my way to work to buy a bigger version of the day cream and a Renergie night cream. Seriously. MY SKIN LOOKS SO GOOD even though I have slept terribly.

7. Now that I have a spouse up and about again, every single thing in my life seems easier because there is another pair of hands. Definitely wearing my rose-colored glasses today.

8. I am proud of myself like I said in #5, BUT. Many things slid through cracks. More than once, for example, Minnie ate a meal on a towel on the floor of the UW pool while Coop had practice. Also, she peed all the way through her pull up and clothes more than once. Dorothy has forgotten to wear her retainer to school most days, and Harry and Jack fell behind turning in work at school because I just didn’t nag them quite as often. A lot happens around here!

Floor food:



But look! We made swim lessons AND our TLG class and coffee:



Harry manned the Little League draft in Ben’s stead after MUCH PREPARATION and a 5-page draft plan

Cooper went through many applesauces trying to swallow a whole pouch in one mouthful. Made it. He’s going to be a legend in his fraternity.


13 comments:

  1. I can't even imagine! I'm so glad you're through to the other side, but you must be exhausted with a capital "E."

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    1. thanks-- I give the whole experience zero stars

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    2. Best. Answer. Ever.

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  2. Oof. I'm glad things are normalizing now.

    I (jokingly) have frequently said that COVID was really a conspiracy by Big Hand Sanitizer to destroy all the faux leather in our cars after we sanitize like crazy after going into stores and then immediately touch our steering wheel and gear shifter thingmajig. I think if our car has remained unscathed your bathroom fixtures will survive your cleaning!

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    1. Ha! Love the conspiracy thoughts

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  3. Anonymous6:28 PM

    Just a heads up that the moisturizer you shared is 50% off at Ulta today. 🙂

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    1. Anonymous7:11 PM

      WHAT?!? I just bought it for $135 at Ulta today!!!

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    2. Anonymous7:35 PM

      OH! The NIGH CREAM-- thank you-- ordered it for curbside pick up. I balked at both night AND day creams today but half price is a different story 🤣

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  4. Congrats! That's a LOT to accomplish by yourself. And (fingers crossed) nice containment!!

    My older kid managed HS assignments by themselves, but my younger one needs prodding and monitoring. I'm so ill-suited for the police work this entails.

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    1. I am ill suited for policing, too. You cannot force someone to have intrinsic motivation, and it's very stressful.

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  5. I can't even believe you are negging yourself for towel food, YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE LEGEND. So is Cooper, obvs. When my husband is sick, he isolates in the basement (where there is a bed but he chooses to sleep on the couch, the weirdo), I can't believe you slept on a couch and did anything but order pizza or throw cookies at your kids all week. Hilarious about the moisturizer - "ten years ago my husband had Covid and I still look the age I was then!"

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  6. You are a full and complete rock star, and I am proud of you for getting through this time the best way you could. You did good, mama!

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  7. You. Are. A. Rock. Star. Seriously. And I'm reading this late - of course - and saw that you are now battling the dreaded norovirus. I'm so sorry. Hang in there... hopefully your containment measures will work a miracle again??

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