Talk about Parenting: Learning a new appreciation for some professions

Published 4:07 pm Saturday, March 28, 2020

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Chris Kovatch

How our lives have changed in just a few short days. 

While everything related to this virus should be regarded with utmost concern and seriousness, I feel that one of the best ways to deal with the stress of the situation is humor.

As I work in the financial industry, I still go to the office every day which means Christi is handling the homeschooling of our six children. I feel like I am the one coming out ahead in this scenario. 

Obviously handling the younger kids’ assignments isn’t that bad. 

Summer tends to be the challenging one and this makes us appreciate her teacher even more. 

Christi has been keeping me in the loop during the day with her social media posts. The topics have ranged from our youngest Kayden getting ahold of a recorder to ‘learn music on’ to a not so good grade on a math sheet that both her and Thayer had worked on. 

This season we are in definitely makes you appreciate certain professions even more. Teachers are one such profession.

This time of doing less running actually hasn’t been all that bad. 

There are no more evening meetings or kids’ sports practices. 

When I get home from work, I pull into the driveway to see the kids playing basketball in the driveway or tag in the yard. The kids and I spend time watering plants in the yard, pulling weeds in the flower bed, or just sitting around the fire pit and talking. 

At first, it felt almost oppressive to be sitting at home not really doing anything. I am so used to always being on the move. Now that a few days have gone by, things are moving towards a new normal.

Evenings at home have progressed to what one might describe as ‘normal’. 

During this time, Christi and I are both home in the evenings, which isn’t normally the case. She generally works evenings and I wrangle the kiddos solo. 

I must admit that I have quickly gotten used to the whole family being around and it will be a bit painful to go back to the way things were when this whole issue is over.

As you sit at home and think about all the things you can’t do right now, it is important to try to see that as a good thing. 

Focus on the things that you can do at the moment and enjoy those. Things will return to the normal hectic schedule soon enough; enjoy the slower pace for now.

Perhaps some good will come out of this bad situation and we will see relationships strengthen and families return to being…well… families.

 

Chris Kovatch is a resident of Orange County. You can reach him at news@orangeleader.com