it's my girls' world

1- What was it like in the beginning?

 

In the beginning, it was scary. Christmas was quiet and beautiful though we missed family and friends immensely. COVID numbers skyrocketed after the holidays and the kids were home. A's teacher (and also A TBH)  at the time wasn't the best at online schooling so parent involvement was pretty high. It was rough, friends and I'm owning it. There's a reason I didn't go into teaching LOL. 

Despite it all though, it was a coziness and a beauty to this season. It was cold outside and we hunkered down as a family. We cooked, watched movies, did "online sleepovers" and lots of virtual happy hours :-). 

2- What worked well and what didn't? 

I let go of a lot of things re: screen time ... I was winding myself up about lots of things with the kids and their online schooling, their screen time and all the things involved with us all being at home. I'm now choosing the things that matter to me more than before....let's see how that's working come 2022

3- What were the most important conversations and connections?

Someone close to me mentioned that she tries to only worry about the things that she has actual control over... it's something that I'm really trying my best to adhere to going forward. Coincidentally, this person who I've been close to for many years is possibly the most important connection I've had for 2021... more on that later. 

4- What was the best entertainment?

The thing that comes to mind is our Modern Family Netflix watching all year round.... It's become awesome bonding for me and the girls many weekday nights. 

5- Who mattered?

Everyone! It was nice to start getting together with our nearest and dearest slowly as the summer began and we all began to get vaccinated.

6- What Changed? And Why?

I started working full time in the corporate world once more... What started off as contract job a favour to my friend and old manager became a blessing for me. I threw my hat in the ring for the Brand Manager position and after meeting/interviewing with several key individuals at the company, got the job. It's been such a change for us all, at times overwhelming, at times crazy, at times fun but I LOVE IT! 

7- Where did you find happiness and fulfillment?

I am finding LOTS of happiness and fulfillment going back into Marketing Management. I work with a Canadian Candy company and it's such a fun industry to understand, take ownership of and grow in... It's awesome interacting with colleagues on a personal level as well and it's an awesome organisation... If you're Canadian and you know Bearpaws then you know where I work. The people are very kind and helpful, the organisational culture is phenomenal and it's still work from home -- so I can wear joggers and no shoes, ha! When I do have to go into the office, it's six minutes away :-). Oh and my kids think that my job is the coolest as they get to sample Candy and learn industry terms like long bite and short bite. 

8- What did you actually learn?

That parenting a pre-teen girl is hard and I need to be less reactive and take things less personally :-). 

9- What is actually ending?

It's a big change for us for me to go back full time into the corporate world. The reason I left in 2013 was because of the kids. Mom doing so many things had to stop. Kids have to become more self sufficient and not yell if Mom is in a meeting, ha! D had to step up (and willingly did) with all the many drop offs; grocery shopping  and extra curricular.

10- What do you want more of?

I want good quality family time, kindness and laughter... less screens apart and more together :-). Road trips, little adventures and visits ... And I really, really want to see family in 2022, our parents, brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins. 

What about you, friends and family? What beautiful things did you learn in 2021. 

1- What was life like in early 2020?

We were super busy in early 2020. Work was more hectic and it was lots going on in the evenings with after school activities. We were like hamsters in wheels. We did lots of meal prep and laundry on weekends, hunkered down for winter and were making quite a few plans for the summer. We took insurance on our Portugal trip "just in case" Covid becomes a big deal. Little did we know....

2- What was the biggest change?

So, so many changes. Definitely, the biggest change was how our day to day life of school, work and routine was switched up. We were basically at home for six months and the pace was so much slower. Mornings were glorious... Grocery shopping was an outing, fresh air was crucial,  and the news had never been on as much. 

3- What were your coping mechanisms?

It was a frustrating time for sure....We did lots of different things to switch it up and there was so many fun moments.  We did drawing tutorials, tried new recipes, baked way too much, had online happy hours, went for lots of walks, fixed up our backyard a bit, and tried our hand at gardening. We also made a really big deal about different things like Hawaiian night, game days, birthday parades and seafood boils. We explored Ontario but also relaxed at home and enjoyed our backyard. 

4- What did connections in your relationships look like?

We were never in touch with people who mattered as much as the last year. Lots of Facetime and when things opened up, lots of walks and a few outdoor gatherings when we were able to. 

5- What will you remember most?

I will remember all the quality time spent: virtual or in real time. The family time,  Facetime calls, Zoom parties,  all the beautiful conversations, and how much comfort it brought us in such an uncertain time. 

6- What was the biggest challenge?

I would say that would have to be not seeing my parents for more than a year. Add to my mom actually getting Covid, and the anxiety of that, it was very rough. They are now both vaccinated but with the borders being closed, I don't know when I will see them. 

7- What was a beautiful memory?

Definitely the moment that we met Toby and then told the girls that he would soon be ours. He has captured ALL of our hearts. 

The day that we met him. 

8- What do you believe now that you didn't one year ago?

I did not believe that in my lifetime I would see a pandemic... I simply couldn't understand what quarantine and lockdown were and how resourceful we have all become. Now I just hope this is the only one that we will experience for a very long time if ever again.... I also didn't think that it would last this long... a year in and here we are. 

9- What would you do differently?

Actually, I'm okay with how we did things...... I cannot think of anything to change. 

10- What will you carry forward?

That so many simple things can bring us joy and there were many issues with quarantine but so many blessings as well.  And family and health are more important than everything else!!!

What about you? What was your pandemic experience like?

Cheers to those quirks, friends!

(And if you're looking for a true momfessional moment, that involves a baby, a bare bottom and a carpet, you have to read this post from a few years ago)