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My family has been holed up in our house for six weeks now. When we came back from our spring break trip to Costa Rica, never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d be home for that long (and more, since we’re not out of the woods yet).
Aside from some common positives coming from this quarantine (less pollution, more family time, etc), my family experienced some other unexpected positives from our time in quarantine. And no, they’re not all travel-related, but this is real life here.
One Kid is Thriving in E-Learning
One of my kids is really thriving with this online e-learning. He has ADHD and really struggles in school. Even on medication, it’s very hard for him to stay out of trouble and pay attention in class.
At home, I have him set up in our office with the door closed. He has few distractions, and he ploughs through his daily work. He’s doing great! His grades are the highest they’ve ever been, and he needs me to help him less and less as the weeks go on. He’s doing so well that I’ve wondered if online school is the right way for him to learn even after the pandemic is over.
My Daughter Finally Learned How to Ride a Bike
My husband is an avid cyclist. Both of our boys learned how to ride a bike without training wheels before kindergarten. They were eager to keep up with their dad and have a way to get around the neighborhood.
However, it’s been a much more difficult road with my daughter. She’s been afraid of falling, and overall just hasn’t shown much interest in riding a bike. But now that she’s in 3rd grade and most of her friends already know how to ride a bike, she’s felt some peer pressure.
So, that’s when the extra time and boredom of a quarantine were helpful. All of a sudden, she started practicing. Within 2 weeks of the quarantine, she learned how to ride her bike!
Now, she can’t get enough of riding. She begs to go riding every day. Last weekend, she rode 14 miles in one day with her dad!
We’re More Organized with Food
When we returned from spring break, grocery stores had already been raided by the locals. We were behind the curve in procuring toilet paper, milk, bread and other necessities. This forced us to get organized with our meals and home food supply.
Pre-quarantine, I went to the store several times a week and bought things as we ran out. I couldn’t tell you exactly what was in our pantry or refrigerator. But now, I know exactly what meat we own and what our upcoming meals area. We go to the store much less frequently, and we have less food waste.
We’re More Open to Different Travel Adventures
As I’ve mentioned on the blog earlier, my family has already had to cancel several trips this year. We’re no longer going to Disney World next month, and we’ve also had to cancel a trip to Mexico as well as two other trips to events which are now canceled.
But as a result, we’re going on other adventures that we never would have considered before. We have plans for two replacement getaways that involve short drives and rental houses near nature. And maybe it’s because I’m desperate after being cooped up in my house for so long, but I’m really looking forward to these different adventures.
Do you have any unexpected positives during this quarantine?
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Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
To be honest, most kids are getting high grades in e-learning because there is really no way for teachers to properly assess or even know who is cheating. Getting high grades from e – learning does not in any way equate with actually learning anything.
@Jack I think it really depends on the grade level and the school district. There is definitely learning happening here. My middle-schooler has to write essays and book reports as well as video himself doing acting monologues.
Hopefully more people will wake up to the reality that kids spending 7 hours a day 5 days a week sitting in a classroom isn’t ideal for acquiring knowledge and thriving intellectually. Kids should be kids and enjoy their childhoods. Kids should be free from teachers feeding kids biased information and programming them with a biased thought process. We don’t need “schooling” or “education” because that is just a synonym for institutionalization and control. We need kids following their own interests and acquiring knowledge about the world around them that is pertinent to their lives and career aims. Elementary schools are basically daycares for parents who work or stay at home people who want time to themselves. There is a benefit to socialization and to learning fundamentals of abcs and 123s through people trained to do it. However for middle and high school the type of instruction, the material and the bias often present in a government sponsored curriculum is not helpful to these young people. They’d be better off with a hybrid program that prioritizes home and has socializing of students in person but not more than 2 days a week. It’s not healthy for kids to be cooped up in a classroom or getting up so early and spending their time returning home on homework. School choice is something we all should support for our kids.
Haha in the bike ride. I have two kids decided that it is time: an eight grader and a forth grader 🙂 The oldest one decided to get rid of the training wheels, when she was 7 years old. Mourning the cancelled trips, we are thankful of the trips that we got a chance to take. Seeing Paris and Rome were a blessing before covid ruin BCN and LGW. It was hard to let go though, but ultimately health is way more important.
@Agnes I’m glad you got to see Paris and Rome before the quarantine. Hopefully you’ll get to take your other planned trips again soon.
My third grader also has finally learned to ride her bike!
@Kelly That’s great!
That’s awesome about your kids!!!!
We’ve been rethinking our “travel” this summer and fall. We’ve already talked about a couple of camping trips in the mountains. I’m contemplating taking a beach vacation to California only because my son is begging to go to the beach. We’ll see how that plays out. But it’s funny how I’m really looking forward to all that like you! Usually I’m trying to figure out international travel and trips to Disneyland!
My husband and I also decided to try at least 10 new hikes this summer with our kids. My husband is also excited because our son is finally showing interest in fishing which is my husband’s passion! Hubby has had time to take our son a few times and also teach him how to tie flies. Before isolation we were all too busy with our “normal” activities.
Here’s to the benefits of self quarantine! 🙂
@Tammie Sounds like you are enjoying the extra time and benefits. 10 new hikes–I would love that!
I am in the garden clearing wild grasses in order to get an area open for planting summer vegetables. I have finished intriguing novels I have wanted to read since last year. I read and enjoy magazines cover to cover. I baked delicious popovers (from a mix). I, too, am going to the grocery store less. Also, the last time I bought gas was in mid- March. I hope to get through April without going to the station. Finally, I am truly enjoying my morning coffee.
@Sara J Sounds awesome!
I don’t get why you aren’t traveling?
I’m flying every week around the US. It’s a delightful time to travel. Probably some of my favorite times in my life (I’ll hit 100+ countries and all 50 states at the end of this year).
It’s a great time to explore places that are not crowded. People are friendly and prices are great. Everyone appreciates me being there, spending money.
I’m going to the airport in a few hours for a long weekend to my 42nd state.
You don’t have to do what you’re told all the time. Fear is, I think, a very bad lesson to teach children. I worry it will damage them for the rest of their lives when we tell them to be scared of other people, common viruses – be suspicious of society and humanity.
I worry that will be more damaging than anything.
@George I see you’ve been making the rounds of travel blogs with this same comment. I’m not traveling right now because my kids are in school. I wouldn’t be traveling right now even if we weren’t in quarantine. That said, right now is not the time to be traveling unless it’s for an emergency. Most places aren’t even open now, including state and national parks. Seems like a terrible time to travel, even if I didn’t believe in what the experts are saying.