Friday. My Day 1 of Week 4 of the time known as “social isolation.” What am I going to remember when I look back?

Aside from two weeks vacation, I never took “maternity leave” when the boys were placed with us two years ago or when their adoption was finalized seven months later. This time has been a gift to get to know, really get to know them and to create routines for our family. It’s two years later, but this time is a gift.

I’ll remember that even though it seems absurd, it is possible to do two full-time jobs at one time. It’s exhausting and there are times when neither job has been done well. There have been times when both jobs have collided head-long.

• Times when I thought the “mute” was on when I yelled for the boys to switch activities only to look down at my computer screen as my team chuckled at my gaff.
• Times when trying to meet with my director or with my team and first one mancub, then another, and then the third come to me with questions about their assignments.
• The time when I look up after 3 solid hours of work and realize the youngest had been happily watching every fun video in his week’s assignments and hadn’t done a single.math.problem or written anything on his book report.

But there have been some really good times as well.

• Being able to teach my parents how to “Zoom” so they could see all their children at one time and visit with us.
• Having lunches and dinners together – all 5 of us – every day and listening to the mancubs share nuggets of knowledge they learned that day. Hearing their “I wonder …” questions, encouraging them to look it up.
• Having books in various stages of completion strewn throughout the house.
• Giving them responsibility for meal and snack planning and watching them teach each other how to cook simple dishes.
• The looks of assurance as they head upstairs for bed each night saying, “See you tomorrow!”

Yes my dear, yes you will.

Granted, I miss the craziness of our lives before we had to stay home but I’ve realized a lot of what I thought was necessary really isn’t. I hope I remember all these things and more when I look back at this time we’ve been gifted with.