03/16/2020
OK, American friends! So it appears the tables are turned and you are where we were here in China in mid to late January of this year. You wouldn’t believe how many moms have reached out to me to ask either how to make it through a quarantine with littles or how to prepare/what to stock up on.
I can’t speak for everyone but I can share from my personal experience.
Initially in a pandemic panic is when the stores tend to be swept clean. It happened here too but after about the first week everything was restocked and we have not experienced any shortage of food and necessities. That’s right. If you’re panicking right now because you didn’t go crazy and buy out Walmart’s entire TP stock, that’s ok - give all the stores time to restock and then BUY AS USUAL. Just buy what you normally would and leave the rest for others to do the same. You will all make it through without having to resort to prehistoric toiletry methods. I promise.
-What should I stock up on then?
When we first went into quarantine Winston (my husband) wisely purchased a large amount of flour, oil, rice, and other staples that we could use to build meals. Other than that we did not stock up on anything else. The fresh foods we had in the house were enough to get us through the first week and after that stores were stocked as normal with these things. (We were allowed one person to go out every two days for groceries.)
-How should I prepare for quarantine with my kids?
If I had known how long we would be shut in I would have probably prepared a few “quarantine surprises” - activities, crafts, or small toys to pull out every couple of weeks. As it was though, we have had to pull on all our powers of creativity and it has been good for us all. We have made blanket forts, done crafts, built block towers (and had competitions!) baked together, played card and board games, ridden scooters around our living/entryway areas, etc. I think those of you in the States with private property or large yards will find yourselves much better off than those of us living in apartments here and sharing common grounds/playground equipment, etc. As it is here the girls and I were inside our house without going outside at all for at least a month. Then gradually we have been able to return to occasionally taking them out to a grassy field to run every few days. We’re still trying to avoid largely populated places and playground equipment.
Also a side note, I keep seeing moms debating whether to crack the whip and keep kids on a schedule and learning something or let them veg out in front of the TV. I think balance is key! Keep in mind that this is different than spring break and may end up being much longer. TV and chill time is something everyone needs, but in too large a quantity it can work against you for a happy, peaceful household long term. Too much veg time in front of screens and there is going to be a big lack of connection leading to all sorts of bad moods from all parties. Remember to stay connected and spend time talking and playing with your kids and change it up every now and then. Balance will win over convenience in the long run.
-How worried should I be about the coronavirus?
The answer is not panicked but concerned enough to take smart precautions. Social distancing and self quarantine, if taken seriously, will get you a LOT further towards protection than fighting over supplies in Target. Remember, the precautions being taken are not only to keep you and your family safe from being infected by the virus, but mainly to stop/slow the spread. It really works. I honestly don’t believe there is any reason to panic. We haven’t seen a lot of that here. What we have seen is people taking smart precautions, following the directions of the local authorities, keeping a good attitude, and pulling together (figuratively of course!) to see this thing through.
The best thing we can do right now is to take a deep breath, realize that we cannot control the situation around us, but we CAN control our response to it, and then buckle down for however long it takes to get this virus controlled/contained.
After two months (and counting) of quarantine here in China we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. Things are looking up here and I know they will there too.
You’ve got this!
We’ve got this.
💗
