COVID-19 Diaries: Week Eight

I skipped our "diary" entry last week because there really wasn't enough new and interesting stuff to post about - go figure.  The girls continue to power through their online schooling.  Elizabeth got the great news last week that they will not be taking finals - she was very worried about how she was going to manage that; focus has been the most difficult thing for her and it's hard to study for exams if you can't focus.  Last week, I was so proud of her - teachers were soliciting feedback on finals, papers, overall "how are you doing" and I overheard her telling the teachers how she felt about things, what was difficult and what was on her mind.  It was just so proud because she wasn't afraid to be vulnerable and she certainly spoke for other kids that didn't have her courage.  Lee and I continue to be grateful that the girls get along so well and are handling things to the best of their ability.
Connecticut is on its 12th straight day of declining hospitalizations, which means that we will be opening up some segments of the economy by May 20th.  There is still no plan in place for schools in the fall, sports this spring and summer, etc. So we are just plugging along until we can get some normalcy back in our lives.

Her streaks tell the story of her day. 

We measure the girls every April and stuck with the schedule. 

It's a good thing that Lee is working because he'd really be driving us crazy with little projects around the house.  Currently, he's painting the dining room. 

The dogs miss us so much when we aren't around that I have started taking them with me when I bring Elizabeth to PT. 

Supporting one of our favorite local businesses, The Nutrition Spot, with an invigorating tea.

8th Grade Semi Formal

Emily was supposed to attend her 8th grade semi formal in mid-March, often the hi-light of their final year at JPII.  It was postponed (likely cancelled) due to COVID19, just one of many important events that Emily will miss out on this spring. The yearbook coordinator asked all of the 8th graders to dress up in their semi formal outfits so she could still feature them in the yearbook, so she got all dressed up late last week. So looked so beautiful - it breaks my heart that she and her friends likely won't be able to experience this awesome event.

COVID-19 Diaries: Week Six

Well, another week of "quarantine" is over and we are still moving along.  The girls had vacation last week, so they had the chance to sleep in every morning, which they loved.  We missed seeing our families on Easter Sunday - we've only missed one Easter in New Hampshire in the last twenty years so it was a little tough on all of us.  Fortunately, it was a beautiful day and the girls spent a lot of time in the yard playing.  Mid-week, Emily and her soccer besties did a socially distant birthday "party" for one of their teammates, who they haven't seen in almost six weeks.  It was good for all of our souls to see her and her family.  This week, the girls are back to school work and the big day for all of us is April 23rd - when the CIAC meets to discuss the fate of spring high school sports in Connecticut.  At its last meeting, it held out hope for sports seasons that ran through July, so we are praying for positive news on this one.

Easter baskets. 

COVID-19 Diaries: Week Five

At this point in the lockdown, we seem to have finally settled into a routine that is working for all of us.  Everyone is exercising a lot, which I think is keeping our spirits high.  We were lucky this week with several days of sunny but chilly weather - the kind of weather that makes for a great night of sleep if you spend time active time outside.  We made a fire after dinner one night during the week, surprising the girls with s'mores, which they loved. I have to say, I'm not looking forward to next week, as the girls are both on spring break so the routine that has been working so well for us might go right out the window.

Parallel play (soccer and lacrosse) - just like when they were little.  

Lee's organizing went to a new level this week - a locker for all of the girls' sports equipment. 

First fire of the spring. 

I saw this on Twitter and sent it to the girls - so hard to stay motivated when there is no firm date for return to sports, but we are so proud of all of the work they are doing.  They both miss playing so much and we miss watching them do what they love. 

COVID-19 Diaries: Week Four

I think that this was the week that we all settled in and adjusted to this new life.  I fully admit that I had the most adjusting to do, but after a rough couple of weeks, I am definitely in a better place mentally.  I think it helps to be honest when people ask "how are you doing?", instead of just saying that everything is great - I find that people respond with their struggles as well.  Lee continues to work on projects at the Y and doesn't see anyone when he's there - it's perfect work for a solitary guy who loves to clean, organize and fix things.  I'm surprised by the amount of work that I still have streaming in but I have to say, I do feel like people are getting around to all of those projects and work items that they've been putting off for so long, me included.  The girls schooling continues to go well although they are both looking forward to having next week off.  With no place to go and the weather looking dreary, I am not looking forward to the lack of structure in our house.
Two NWC related items.  One is this great video that the parents put together for our amazing staff, which you can view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OGee-LEIiQ
The other was a message from our NWC Head of School, in his weekly email.  I felt like, for the first time, someone was putting into words my jumbled up emotions:

"I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time given to us." 

 ~J.R.R. Tolkein, The Fellowship of the Ring

Dear Northwest Catholic Community,

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time given to us." As we end the third week of NWC Virtual School, I am so aware of the heavy feeling that hangs over our region and our country, even our global community. There is a palpable sense of suffering and deepest concern. Rarely do we choose the greatest challenges of our lives, our crosses and rings to bear, as in the quote above from the great literary trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkein.

A devout Catholic, Tolkein served in and survived both World Wars and poured his spirit into his creative work his entire life. Certainly this moment calls us to deepest faith and creativity in the face of genuine darkness. We are coming to see as a community and nation that there is no way around this great burden that has come to us. The only way out, is through. And the only way through is as one, a united Northwest Catholic community. I am moved daily by the examples of resilience, hard work, perseverance, faith, and generosity of our students, families, and teachers. How else could we do this without our faith in each other and in our God of tender mercy? So, even amidst suffering, I believe we are living faithfully in this "time given to us."

I love this kid. 

Our (lame) submission for the teacher thank you video. 

Hours of lax in the yard. 

Hours of soccer - in the yard, at the track, you name it. 

 

Our neighborhood elementary school did a teacher parade - here is the girls' beloved kindergarten teacher.

March Soccer

Well. If Lee and I had known that Emily would only play one game this March - or perhaps, one game all spring - we would not have missed this one.  I was in en route to NYC by the time the game started (in upstate New York) and Lee was home with Elizabeth, so Emily was sent with her best friends.  I'm grateful that we have a parent that takes photos at the games, so that I was able to get a glimpse into her first game of the season.  The girls beat Alleycats 2-0 (a team they lost to 3-1 in the fall) and played a great game.  Crossing our fingers that they get on the field together again before the spring season is over.

COVID-19 Diaries: Week Three

Although we started the week thinking that Lee would be filing for unemployment, he continues to pick up maintenance hours, which keeps the paycheck coming (thankfully).  The longer we can keep at least most (minus the personal training clients) of his paycheck coming, the better off we are.
Although they finished another week of school without seeing their friends, the girls seem to be powering through this like champs.  Elizabeth has had some anxious moments but Emily is very upbeat. The other night, Emily told me that she's doing okay because she knows that "eventually, even if it takes a year, things will get back to normal. And the earth is sooo happy right now - clear skies and clear water."  They continue to run together every afternoon and play lacrosse or soccer almost every day.  I think that I am struggling the most, trying to transition to working from home (which I do not like at all) and constantly looking at Twitter for information.  It is difficult for control freaks like me when absolutely nothing is in my control!

Emily does a virtual workout with some of her soccer teammates every morning. 

Before logging on for morning classes. 

Heading out for a run together. 

Voice lessons via Zoom 

Hours of soccer in the yard when the weather is nice. 

Willis has taken over the yoga mat.

Winter Conditioning

Over the winter, when the Sporting girls only have one practice a week and one (short) game on the weekend, their coach again asked me to do weekly conditioning work with the team.  As I did work almost every weekend last winter with some of the girls, it wasn't really a stretch for me to add the rest of the team.  And frankly, it was usually the same 6 girls that showed up every week, with a few add ons here and there. Emily's coach did his best to suggest (and then flat out state) that it was mandatory practice, but several girls stayed home each week. For those that did come, the workouts were sometimes fun but always hard, and as they got closer to being back outside for games, they got considerably harder.  What's impressive to me is how much effort these girls give - parents would text me afterwards and tell me that their daughter was having a hard time walking down stairs, had sore legs 24 hours later, etc.  Yet they would show up again the following week.  For the 6-10 girls that ran, week in and week out especially in late February and early March, all the extra work really showed during their winter friendlies and first game of the season - they were clearly in much better shape than the opposing teams.  I'm hoping that these girls keep up the hard work during these strange and unusual times so that if and when the season starts up again, they will be ready to go.

Pre-Christmas workout in Christmas socks.

Stairs.  Lots and lots of stairs. 

Slap tag on a beautiful January afternoon.

One minute they were on the verge of throwing up, but by the end of their cool down, they were all smiles.

Hardest workout of the winter and unbeknownst to us, one of the dads was timing them. They got faster and faster on every step of the ladder workout, such that their final 100 was the fastest of the day.  Crazy. 

All smiles after a crushing workout.

Stairs on a frigid Leap Day afternoon.

30s, 60s, 90s