Here in Rochester, NY, many of us have reached the end of our second full week being stationed at home, whether that’s to care for and help guide children who need to learn remotely, work in an environment we never envisioned, or deal with the uncertainties of unemployment insurance and when we can return to normalcy. It’s very likely some combination of all the above is the new reality for thousands of families around town.
Quite often, finding something that feels like the old, usual routine can help to bring a sense of familiarity to times like this. For others, simply finding a way to cut down on all the new routines that require our attention help us to feel calm within the storm. But what’s familiar when your new normal says that you need to be socially distant? Maybe that’s Friday pizza. Maybe it’s playing street hockey in the driveway on Saturday when you’d normally be shuffling off to a tournament. Or perhaps it’s movies that remind you of happy times—say, that movie you and your significant other went to see on your first date.
So, you say you’ve got all that figured out and nesting at home is going well? You even have time to paint those walls after all these years? Well, at any moment things can get BUSY. Think back just a few weeks ago when you were running around within that daily grind cloud. Somehow it worked. It might have even felt odd if you had a ton of time on your hands—like you do now. But it’s okay to have that time at home if you’re not used to working or learning there. But what do you do if you need to focus because there are so many things that suddenly need to be done at home, all of which have nothing to do with the typical tasks of home? It’s a huge challenge working from home when you need to help your children with schooling—and even harder when they lack the motivation to learn because their routines are not at all normal. That’s the new normal for many of us. We’re all simply trying to figure this all out, and it’s hard when the book’s being written as you live it.
It’s not all doom and gloom. We WILL get through this, but it is a serious situation. And that situation is more than just the virus that has everyone so concerned. It’s all these little things we suddenly took on as we shuttered ourselves in our homes. Just remember, home is what you make of it—and that can be something truly special. Years from now stories will still be told of people who persevered during the 2020 pandemic. Those stories will be more than just surviving the virus—they’ll be stories written about how they discovered new abilities and new careers all by closing off all outside influences and focusing on themselves from home. It’s also likely no school-aged child will forget 2020. Even more stories will be told by them how they felt during it all and how it prepared them for learning independently later in life.
We’re here to simply say: Sit back a few minutes. Think about all the things you’re doing now that you never thought you’d be able to do three weeks ago. And while you take a moment to yourself, think about the things you wish were easier to get done, or the places you wish were easier to find to help you and your family discover more. Should you need our help with a dental emergency, we’re here for you. We wish you nothing but the best of health and hope you’re doing great navigating through this new normal while staying safe.
Below are some links we thought may be helpful for you and your families.
Grocery Delivery Services:
Instacart: https://www.instacart.com/
Wegmans Instacart: https://instacart.wegmans.com/
Tops Instacart: https://www.topsmarkets.com/instacart/
Target Delivery: https://www.shipt.com/Target
Wal-Mart Grocery Delivery: https://grocery.walmart.com/
Amazon Prime Now Grocery Delivery: https://primenow.amazon.com/
Food Delivery Services:
Uber Eats: https://www.ubereats.com/
DoorDash: https://www.doordash.com/
GrubHub: https://www.grubhub.com/
Postmates: https://postmates.com/
Local info:
RocWiki (great resource to find new food spots): https://rocwiki.org/
YogaVibe Rochester (offering complimentary yoga instruction via YouTube) http://www.yogavibe585.com/
Tips for Working at Home:
https://www.npr.org/2020/03/15/815549926/8-tips-to-make-working-from-home-work-for-you
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-work-from-home-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak-2020-3
Ideas and Free Educational Materials for Kids at Home:
Cincinnati Zoo’s Virtual Safari: https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo/
Scholastic’s Free Learn at Home: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html
Khan Academy Free Learning: Crash Course YouTube Channel: https://thecrashcourse.com/
Continuing Education Opportunities:
Open Yale Online Courses: https://oyc.yale.edu/
CDC’s Official Website for COVID-19 Updates:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
State of NY’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
