An Imperfect Christian Mom's COVID-19 Diary #4

 

It has been a month of closed schools and businesses. Over the last week, grocery stores in the area have taken even greater precautions to keep consumers and employees safe, like one way arrows in all the aisles to control the flow of traffic.

My new normal is working mostly from home, Zoom for all work or volunteer group meetings, and the entire family home for who knows how long. For Easter, I tried to keep things as normal as possible. Easter egg hunt for the girls in the morning and turkey and ham for dinner. Even though we had a much smaller group than usual, we had a nice time.

More deaths from the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke hit the news (52 so far). Our hearts go out to all those affected. I am grateful that my father-in-law is holding his own so far.

My family is finally getting to see my neat freak side. I think I have washed the kitchen floor three times this week. It helps with my allergies, and now that the living areas have had a good cleaning, I want to keep them that way.

I've read a mix of fiction and non-fiction lately. Before I became a blogger, I had read only non-fiction for two years. I'm grateful blogging turned me back on to the great fiction out there. My main blog, The Book Connection, has been around for more than a decade. Some blogs have come and gone, but I'm thrilled that the loyal readers keep tuning in. More time to blog is a blessing of the current situation. I'm also using my extra time to reach out to folks to see how they are doing. We need to support each other.



When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

Isaiah 43:2

Diary of a Busy Mom - Back to Work

Well, I did it. I got myself a job. Starting next week, I’ll be training to manage an office for a local insurance agent. I need to get my certification to sell insurance policies, but other than that, I expect the transition of working from home to working outside the home to go smoothly.

So why do I feel so anxious? Part of it is that I haven’t really worked for anyone else in over nine years. Suddenly, I’ll have to prove myself all over again. But I think the largest anxiety is caused by the change it will be to my family.

I won’t be able to pick the Lil’ Diva up from the bus stop anymore. I won’t be home when the Lil’ Princess gets off the bus at the end of the cul-de-sac. I have to trust they won’t kill each other in the thirty-five minutes it takes me to get from the office to the house.

Knowing that I’ll have some flexibility with this job is a definite plus, but what about when the kids are sick? Will I feel like I have to send them to school anyway or risk losing my job? There will be no more meeting the Lil’ Princess for lunch at school. There will be no more volunteering at school because my shift is from 10 AM – 3 PM.

Then there’s me rushing home to make sure I get a quick bite to eat before taking the Lil’ Princess off to softball practice on Wednesdays and Friday afternoons and the fear that I’ll miss some of her games or have a hard time getting the Lil’ Diva to concert practice or cheerleading tryouts.

Many years ago, when I was a single parent, I didn’t worry so much about this stuff. It was only me, so I had to work. Now, it seems like I’m throwing everyone’s schedules up in the air just to make a few bucks.

I pray I made the right choice. It’s an exciting opportunity for me. I just hope we can all adjust to the change.