Enjoy this time.

My family spending time together, 2001.
As a teacher, I have always valued the ability to spend summers and breaks with my family.  Whether staying at home, away camping, or a trip to the occasional resort, time together was a priority.  There was always some specter of urgency creeping up to claim our togetherness.  Soccer, piano, school, homework, church, friends, and extended family gatherings all vied for the little time there was.  Our own responsibilities claimed other chances as the needs of work and society took their respective tolls. 

Although the Covid-19 pandemic has brought chaos where structure and safety once reigned, there has been a silver lining to it, for some anyways.  It has meant time at home, for everybody, and a chance to renew relationships within the immediate family.  There are those who can not take advantage of this situation though, those who are themselves sick and those that are the front line workers have no such time on their hands.  Between self-isolation to protect their loved ones and time away from home to help others there is little left for family.

If, however, you find yourself at home because work is unavailable and your children have no school, think of this as an opportunity to improve family bonding.  Play games, read together, talk, go for neighbourhood walks, and enjoy each other's company.  At some point this will all be over and things will go back to normal, or at least "the new normal," and time may not be on your side anymore.  If you can, enjoy this time with those you love.

Thanks for reading.   www.ericspix.com   Eric Svendsen

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