Opinion : Tips for staying at home, the fun stuff

Tuesday, on the verge of everything closing down, I went to the Supervisors meeting like I do every week. The street was humming a little quieter and there was less chatter on the streets.

Coming out of the meeting I noticed that there was even less traffic and even fewer people to be seen.

Driving through town last night it was an oddly unsettling sight as the town had closed down except for a few cars out in the area.

It's unsettling because it's not the norm to see Vinton like that. At the same time, it was somewhat comforting to see that Vinton is taking this threat of the Coronavirus seriously.

I imagine behind several closed doors, moms are taking a deep breath and trying to figure out how to entertain the family for the long haul. Maybe she's also trying to figure out how to work from home while she does it. For those in this situation, it will be rough.

But don't panic just yet. Give it some time. You will find a new normal.

As a mom to both girls and boys, I will just assume here, that your girls and boys are like mine were. You have to keep them busy.

You are going to find that making a schedule, whether in your mind or on a sheet of paper for all to see, will be the thing that saves you.

This means that maybe following breakfast time, you need time to begin your work from home. Maybe this is their video time. while turning on a video will work for a while, but at some point, there will be fighting and grumpiness from too much video time.

Start with a video playlist. Let each child choose one movie, or you choose. Now is the time you're going to get all you can from that online movie service.

What can we do when there's been too much screen time?

1. Now is also the time to dig out any of those crafts or projects that might be laying in a closet from Christmas.

2. Perhaps it's time for some artistic time, coloring a picture or creating a craft.

3. Maybe it's a chance for them to dig out their closet.

4. Every kid has too many toys, have each child find 10 to donate.

5. This is also a time to sit the children down and let them come up with a list of things they want to do to help someone else. Why not call an elderly friend and volunteer to rake their yard and get it ready for summer. The best way to get through a tough situation is to find someone else to help.

6. Clean out the garage.

7. Detail the cars.

8. Make a chore list, you're going to need one. Every member of the family has a task. Whether it's vacuuming, sweeping, collecting the trash, cleaning the bathroom. Mix it up, write the jobs on a slip of paper, put them in a jar and have the children choose one chore. One jar are daily tasks, one jar are the tasks that don't need to be done every day. Maybe it's a large job where all the kids can go to that area and complete the task. Does the yard need to be raked? Sticks put in a pile?

9. Make a set Quiet Time every day. This is a time that everyone goes into their room to read a book, rest, or to work on a quite activity. Maybe it's an hour set aside in the afternoon where mom and/or dad can finish up the work that they need to do before the supper hour. Don't feel bad, you need this time. Routine is the key!

10. Teach the kids how to change a tire, how to check the oil, how to "add a quart", how to fill the antifreeze and windshield washer fluid

Mail a letter

The practice of sending a letter is something that most kids do not know how to do. Now is the time to make a list of the relatives that live far away that would enjoy hearing from you via snail mail.

It's time to turn off the computer and get out pens and paper. Have them make their own stationery, of course, you will have to explain what stationery is.

Maybe they can write to their teachers thanking them for all they do, letting them know that they miss them.

It's a chance to use old forms of communication with technology...to find those addresses!

It's also a time to give them some practical knowledge while having fun.

Cooking lessons

This idea might be the most useful and come in really handy over the next few weeks.

Most kids do not know how to cook. This is the PERFECT time to teach them to do this. Make two meals, or three if you have older children that want to make their own dish. ]

One will be for supper and the others will go into the freezer, for the time when life is back to normal and time is just not there to cook.

lesrn how to bake bread, make cinnamon rolls!

Make a menu

This is the time that you give them some busy work.

Explain what you want in each meal. The main course, vegetable, fruit, dessert, etc.

First, they need to make a list of all of their favorite meals. Then they need to fill all of the categories that you choose.

Now they need to make a grocery list. What items do you have, what do you need. Keep in mind, you need to double this if you want an extra freezer meal. (Most meals can be frozen, if you are unsure, google what you'd like to freeze)

Some of these ideas won't work for little children, Little children are going to just want you to put them on your lap and work with one hand. Sometimes they just need a hug. It seems like they might be in the way, but they simply need a few minutes of your attention. Take that time.

At the end of the day, you're going to feel exhausted. You're going to wonder if you did everything right. Did you do your job from home as well as you could at work? Probably. Did you give the children the attention they needed? Yes.

This is a time that more is going to be on your plate, you are going to question how to do it all. You can't. What you can do is to do your very best.

Yes, you're probably going to get cranky while you try to juggle everything, but in the real world, that's normal. There is no perfect mom or dad.

Most importantly, make this a fun time. Don't burden the children with what's happening outside your door, they aren't made to deal with that. Turn off the news, you can check it online. Concentrate on making this time the very best for them. Make it memorable, make it fun. Make every day an adventure.

It will take more planning on your part as a parent, especially if you're working. It might mean odd hours, but in the end, I hope you find this was the best part of your life, and the children will be able to look back and say, "Remember when we were stuck in the house? That was the most fun!"

Make this time special, you only get to raise them once!