This time at home has been filled with lots of ups and downs for many of us. As I have stated before, I’m trying to focus on the good. And one of the great silver linings has been having T-Daddy home a lot more of the time. His crew is also at home right now, and while he has been going to his office everyday (he is the only one in his office, FYI) we have loved having him here in the afternoons. We have done some activities as a family, but a lot of the time we each take a turn with the boys so the other can have a little down time. I’ll take them across the street for biking/stroller/rollerblading, and last week he drove them to a private pond near his parents’ house to go fishing!
Fun fact: Thomas helped build this dock in a canoe years ago! He’s going to take Mazen back alone for a longer fishing trip soon.
I got him this Minimeis shoulder carrier for Christmas. We have mixed reviews, but it is a very cool concept! And it was perfect to contain Birch while Thomas helped Mazen fish.
Family Walks
In the afternoons we’ve been taking Birchie on walks around the block. He LOVES to be outside and gets this determined look on his face and walks straight forward as if he has somewhere to be. It’s the cutest thing.
Crafting With Mazen
Mazen is 6x more energetic though, and has 6x the opinions! 
He looks like prince charming here but we’ve had our struggles. He’s had a few virtual meetings with his teacher that go SO well, but when I try to do anything remotely academic with him (other than read) he balks. So we’re still navigating the best way to structure our days and have pow-wowed with Matt on some ideas. I’ve tried a freestyle checklist where he get to choose what he does when, but he just does his favorite thing and neglects the rest. I imagine it will take us the whole spring to figure out what might halfway work.
Gardening craft was a hit!
Good Eats
Last week’s leftover ribs with rice and salad.
This Plenty Cville shaved salad with dates and breadcrumbs was fab!
I ordered some more Daily Harvest smoothies and I don’t know why this flavor hasn’t been on my radar. It was SO minty good! Ingredients: banana, spinach, cacao, cashew, peppermint, chlorella, vanilla bean.
This is a crazy, crazy time.
I watch the news and can’t believe what is happening. I hope you all are ok. Please tell me what’s happening in your neighborhood?
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Nice to see you guys enjoying the outdoors! Cute post! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Joni says
Hi Kath!
In our neck of the woods, small island in central Florida, things are VERY quiet! Our island is mainly a tourist destination now and that has pretty much been stopped by our mayor and governor. It is our own little piece of paradise so besides no stores or restaurants we feel pretty removed and safe at this time anyway. I know probably a false feeling but sometimes I need that. We are staying to ourselves and just visiting with neighbors 6feet apart while out walking or riding our bikes. We have planned our food pretty good and haven’t been to a store in about 2 weeks. Stay safe!
Kath Younger says
Thank you for sharing an update! “Own little piece of paradise” sounds like a nice place to be quarantined <3
Sam M says
Hi Kath! I’m tucked away in the woods up in Connecticut, trying to appreciate the small blessings of this (easier said than done, of course), like having more time with my fiancé or learning new recipes. Tons of cases reported in our area, which makes it unnerving to go out, even for groceries.
Kath Younger says
Stay safe in those woods Sam!
shannon says
I have been having the same struggles with my middle son! It takes alllll day with lots of breaks to complete his class assisgnments!! Please share if you find something that works!
Kath Younger says
A freetime checklist is working…more on Friday!
Steph says
Just the term “T Daddy” warms my heart. Thanks for sharing…and for the great pics. I’ve heard that everyone has a little joy and a little oy these days. Our joy is the quality family time we’ve had…yesterday our middle child (age 9) set up an entire “staycation” in our front yard…we built sandcastles (with kinetic sand), splashed in the sprinkler (it was only a high of 70…yikes!), relaxed in the sun, ate snacks and even had a little photo booth. Lots of joy. But…it’s so much together time that the kids do get tired of each other. We all need a little alone time now and then. And we all miss our friends and buddies terribly. Hope we can merge the creativity with things we miss once we get back to a new normal!
Kath Younger says
Aww love the sand castle! Agree – this is a lot harder on the extraverts than the introvert kids, I think.
Laura says
Hi! We’re in Durham, NC enjoying the warmer weather. We are fortunate to have a nice size backyard for the kids to play in! I am also really loving the swingset/slide we had installed for the kids at Christmas-it has been so handy! I’ve started walking laps around our backyard when they’re playing to get in some extra steps. My husband and I are both wfh full time but we’ve established a good routine that works with two young kids. My daughter and I are baking a ton which has been fun and delicious!
Kath Younger says
We are super thankful for our yard (and porch) as well. Glad you have a good routine going <3
Kasey says
My husband and I have both tested positive and are quite ill but happy to have a safe home to recover in. At least we can stop worrying about contracting it now that we already have it 🙂
Kath Younger says
oh my goodness – I’m so sorry. I hope you continue to stay out of the hospital.
Hannah says
Trying to work at home with a toddler and baby, but at least we don’t have to worry about virtual learning!
Kath Younger says
You have your hands very full!
LC says
Try to turn the subjects he balks at into some sort of game. An example: When teaching math addition or subtraction facts you could make a GO fish game, or ask a math fact and roll a ball to him… He would then roll the ball back to you as he says his answer. It definitely will be a trial and error thing. Hang in there. You can do it!
Kath Younger says
Working hard to figure these out – I do one and then he’s bored in 10 minutes and we’re back to square one. Being a teacher is hard : )
Rachel says
Hi!
A daily point chart has worked wonders for us! Pick 4-5 things that need to be done each day, after 7 days my six year old got a new toy. This week we switched up the responsibilities/daily tasks a bit and the reward will be a new book.
Hope that helps!
Kath Younger says
Thanks!!
Lindsay says
Not too much to report up here in the Minneapolis area. Yes, there are cases of COVID but nothing too terrible (from my point of view). Our Shelter-at-home orders are set to expire on Friday with three more weeks of severe social distancing but seeing as we have a very liberal governor I wouldn’t be surprised if those orders don’t get extended. I personally am really struggling with this all because I am single and live alone without family nearby. The few things helping to keep me sane is my peloton bike, drive-thru iced coffees (a necessity for right now), and nice spring weather which lets me get outside and enjoy the weather. I am also finding that I am super grateful for my job, my health, and my family! How is T’s company doing with the shelter at home orders in place? Are you guys doing okay? I do like that you have gone back to more “normal day to day posts” and I have been prioritizing clicking over to check-in and comment! 🙂
Kath Younger says
Thank you for commenting! Sounds like you’re hanging in there ok. T’s crew has been at home for 2 weeks, but may be working one at a time on outdoor projects in near future. TBD! He’s the only one in his office, so he has been working part time there or from home most days.
Sandy says
I am in a little vacation resort town in Florida and all seems safe and quiet here but of course none of us is really safe from this virus. We follow all of the rules and limit our grocery trips. We are not having any trouble finding groceries except for the hand sanitizers and cleaning supplies that all are desperate for. We have had two children who used to live in Charlottesville and I wonder how many cases you have there and what the grocery situation is like for you.
Kath Younger says
Hi Sandy, according to the VA Health dept we have 23 cases in Cville and 38 in the County, and I think about 150,000 people. I’ve been waiting for a huge spike, but also hoping maybe they closed the city down at the right time. Fresh groceries have been ok, but we haven’t been in two weeks so Im not 100% sure! Lysol wipes in high demand.
Molly says
Two doctor household in Boston and we have a ten month old. I’m a PCP, husband is a surgeon. We are alternating on the front lines since our childcare has been closed. Stress levels are incredibly high (we just put together our will)…but we are currently asymptomatic and have enough PPE. Posts from folks like you who are persevering with distancing despite the challenges as parents/human beings are so refreshing and a nice escape from our current reality.
Kath Younger says
Thank you so much for all you are doing to fight this virus! I can’t imagine the worry of two parents both out there risking getting sick. I hope all continues to go well <3
nicole says
Hi, fellow RD here(from Canada)-not relevant to my comment but the main reason I started following you. I empathize with you re: school. I have a 6 year old boy who is basically just refusing any kind of school at home. He does very well at school and is very engaged but at home-outright refuses. He misses friends and the routine of school. We have tried multiple things including a loose schedule with goals that he chooses-lasted 2 days.(https://www.theleangreenbean.com/pre-kindergarten-daily-schedule/)
I also have a 2.5 year old so i don’t have the time or energy to make/create etc and focus on just him as much. I am just trying my hardest to let it go-even though my heart hurts every time I see other families doing really well at home school etc. This is his personality-strongwilled, opinionated etc(spirited child to a tee). I am trying very hard to accept and embrace his personality!
Kath Younger says
It sounds like we both have very similar spirited kids : ) We are having much better luck with a daily checklist that covers 4 subjects. (aka it’s worked for about 4 days). This is VERY loosely structured. “Art” can be mean drawing a picture. Writing is writing a letter – to anyone – which also takes 5 minutes or less. Reading is the only one I’m strict on. We just got a Kids Kindle which is SO SO GREAT for tracking reading. It puts the authority on the kindle time tracker and not on the “mean parent with a timer.” I am thrilled if he completes all four and he is rewarded with some iPad time which he can use to Facetime his friends and socialize. (We started by letting social time be one of the checks and that was a disaster). I think we kids like ours we just have to do the best we can and not stress too much about academics!
The Many Thoughts of a Reader says
I have an 8 year old who is loving the learning from home but does miss her friends. I’ve gone back and forth on the schedules we’ve used. She starts her learning day at 9:00. Her class is all set up with google classroom and things are ‘optional’ until Monday. I give her about 5 different apps that she needs to complete ‘her must do’s’ which is basically how they started their day at school. Math practice, typing practice and some reading and listening to her teacher do a read aloud. Then I don’t put a time on anything else unless it is time sensitive like a zoom with her class or one set up with friends. I put facebook lives on her list too from illustrators/authors she loves. She has a daily set of worksheets that her teacher emails out and we aren’t on the exact days of what she sent because she needed a bit more outside time a few days. But it’s a good enough structure that she’s completing everything enough to stay engaged and flying through the Harry Potter series. She had only read book 1 and half of book two. Now she is in the middle of book 6!
Katie says
I have a first grader and we are struggling with digital learning as well. She does great for the most part but, as soon as we hit writing, she puts the biggest fight. I put it off for as long as I can and some days just skip it and have to double up the next day. I’m working from home as well and just don’t want the headache. Teachers are so underpaid! We just finished yesterday’s writing assignment and I sent her outside to play with the dog before sitting back down for today’s assignment. I bribe with rewards and threaten to take away the Switch, nothing works. Good luck! Please let us know if you find the solution! lol
Christy Peters says
Hi from the UK
We are in our 3rd week of lockdown and its about to be extended. We can go out go out an hour a day to exercise…and to get groceries but thats it. Walking the dog is my saviour!
I’m trying to home school the kids…aged 6 and 8, but not successfully. I’m also working 3 days a week from home.
Good luck. Love your posts! X
Faith says
Maybe this is already a thing but what about a school subject bingo board, rather than a checklist? ???? Might motivate a boy because it’s more like a game to win?
Kath Younger says
Oh I like that idea!!! Would it be weekly Bingo or daily?
Hayley says
Thank you for this post and keeping it real. Everyone is struggling, in many different ways. My 6 year old has been doing well in virtual class online, but that’s only happened twice so far. He’s in French immersion (we’re in BC, Canada) and I don’t speak French so I worry he will lose what he knows. He doesn’t want to read with me, unless I’m the one reading. He freely enjoys art for many hours a day but getting him to practice writing a single letter is like pulling teeth. We’ll get through this! My youngest is set to start Kindergarten in the fall but I fear that won’t materialize and if it does we’ll be back to virtual classrooms in October when flu season hits. I have a tendency to look at the numbers multiple times a day and I fear for your country. I’m glad you are staying safe!