This Is How We Do It - written 2020

Happy Tuesday everyone. I hope you're doing well. We are working on our new routine, our new normal. Trying to find the normal part.

So many new things to try to master, and the biggest thing for our family is trying to keep a schedule. Organization has always been our Achilles heel, but now we have ample time to work on it while homeschooling. Or to watch what little bit we had fall apart. Forget I said that. Trying to be positive here.

First step: Get these kids outside for morning walk. (And their dad too when we are lucky enough to have him home which is not that much these days since he has been ON IT).

Today is a beautiful day and we are so glad to see the blue skies. So we are sure to be headed out again for recess later.

Next we made breakfast, and we have some really lovely wonderful recipes to share that we got from school. I'll try to include them here and there. This morning we made this:

Karen is one of the early childhood teachers at school, and she is incredible, like all of them. We are so lucky to still have them in our lives. Each week they are sending us little "packets" of things to do with the kids. Last week, this recipe came. We have already made it a bunch.

I did my best to conjure Karen's very loving, serene influence while making the cake. All I can say is I did my best. I know you all feel me.

And you might wonder, cake for breakfast? But remember this is not a time for judgement. It turned out so seriously delicious that it was worth the guilt completely. My little helpers had so much fun making it.

I don't have a picture of the finished product (sorry). But that is a testament to how good it was. It is all gone already. Hey, there were five of us. The sixth is back at it at the hospital.

We went on to some main lesson stuff today which we did for a chunk of the morning. Back outside for that action.

Radar loved it.

Our colors got a little smudgy from her slippery snout. But mission accomplished, even if it was wet and slobbery.

I never really thought kids should be at a desk anyway. Actually, last year in the first week of first grade, my Asa got up out of his desk and did a little dance around the class. What I would have PAID to have seen that. I was mortified at first when I first heard, but then I just thought it was adorable. Sorry, teacher. I promise I did remind him that we don't act that way in school. Gosh if only I had known what patience it takes to keep their attention and not react! I'm working on it.

Later we had a bit of reading time/quiet time. We hit the classics hard.

You would be proud though because remember I said I had to FaceTime the handwork teacher? Well we did. And it turns out it was for crocheting not knitting, but I'm working on that too. Starting at the basics. Luckily my eight year old could figure it out when I couldn't.

So far, it's been a really beautiful morning. We are going to have lunch now, but I'm feeling hopeful about the rest of the day. I hope you are too, for yourselves.

And if you need a pick-me-up, wherever you are in the world right now, let me tell you:

Last night before my husband left the hospital, first responders from all over the area descended on the hospital for a nod to their comrades. As if to say we're all in this together.

This was just a little snippet. It actually went on for a long, beautiful while.

Not a dry eye in sight. Let's hold on. Be well everyone.

xo, Dr. Swae