Life At Home With the Boys

Continuing Our Connection While We’re Apart

Stories and Situations About At-Home Time During COVID-19

Hi Friends,

Here we are, Day 17 of being home with our families after our school decided to close our doors and help stop the spread of COVID-19. Though I find so much comfort in knowing I get to be home with my boys - Shawn, Sullivan, and our dog Riley (something I never felt like I got enough of “before”), it’s coming with a lot of angst, pressure, and uncertainty that affects us all. Furthermore, I’ve been connecting with our MMCH families and friends on a daily basis for the last 9 years. Suddenly, we are pulled apart, and my frequent check-ins with each of you are much harder to come by. You no longer get to tell me about what’s going on in your lives each morning - funny things your children said, how he/she woke up 4 times last night and you have no idea why, or how your child is struggling with getting dressed, following directions, transitions, etc. and see how I could help and/or just commiserate. My fellow teachers and I knew each of your children by heart because it was our sole responsibility to observe and support them each day we spent together. We knew who they played with, what made them sad, what made them feel proud, what foods they ate, how long they slept, and so on. Which brings me to my point…

Since I no longer get daily check-ins about you and your children, my plan is to take this opportunity to give check-ins on life at home for the Mahars. I’ll share some pictures, funny stories, resources, thoughts about grey days, and thoughts about sunny days, as a new way of connecting with you. All I have to offer are my personal experiences at this point. I can share what I know about children ages 1.5 to 6 years old and how I’m trying to use that knowledge to support Sullivan while we’re at home in sometimes stressful and unexpected situations. My hope is that you may be experiencing similar things and you’ll feel that support - that connection - some of so deeply appreciate and are missing in our lives while school remains closed. A way to say, “I hear you” and “you’re not alone in this.”

If there’s a particular challenge you and your family are having that you’d like some perspective on, or you’ve had some great experiences you think our fellow MMCH families could appreciate, please reach out. The more we can continue to connect with each other while we’re apart, the better.

Much love and be well,

Bethany