One day, all the history books will speak about the great pandemic of 2020. They will tell the story of how terribly it impacted the economy, families, and all the incredible restrictions placed on communities; it will highlight how many people lost their jobs and spent weeks worrying about how they would pay their bills. Future generations will hear about the vast number of people who contracted the virus and how many people perished. There will be many who say, "I can't even imagine."
It's true; what we are experiencing has been traumatic for countless individuals and their families. In my family alone, my children's lives have been deeply affected. They have been dealing with their own sense of loss.
My daughter, a sophomore at William & Mary, had to cut her semester short to come home and complete her courses. Bless her heart. Trying to take five classes that were never meant to be taught online, with the never-ending background noise coming from her siblings, has been challenging. In addition, she had to leave her friends, her routine, and a place she now calls "home" without a proper goodbye.
My oldest son saw his senior year abruptly come to an end. His varsity soccer season was cut short; they were undefeated and likely moving toward the championship. My boy missed out on prom, senior skip day, senior field day, and all the senior trips that were being planned. As if those disappointments weren't enough, he also had to grind out five AP classes online. At one point, even the dream of a high school graduation ceremony looked bleak.
Christian, my high school freshman, seemed to handle it fairly well. He was, of course, disappointed to not be able to workout with his buddies or attend football practice. However, the greatest blow for him came in the form of a driving permit; that great milestone would have to wait.
My not-so-little ones missed out on their fifth-grade graduation ceremony, field day, yearbook signing, and saying goodbye to their closest friends and teachers. Online learning was a challenge as we all had to learn various platforms and go through the tedious trial and error process. It was not always pretty in the Roy household, but we managed. Perhaps the most devastating realization for these girls was...no gymnastics for a while.
Yes, we will read many stories highlighting the personal impact stemming from the overwhelming events of this great pandemic. While the realities of this situation have, in many cases, been grim, there is a wonderful gift to this story that may be overlooked...the gift of time. What a precious gift. Before this, I could not tell you the last time we put a puzzle together, had a 3-hour Monopoly battle or had a Bob Ross painting night. Workouts became more creative. Walking the dogs became a daily thing. We colored with chalk, dyed our hair, played dozens of board games, and had outdoor movie nights. I was gifted with more lengthy conversations with my big kids than I can count. These moments have warmed my heart and blessed my spirit on a daily basis. We have been able to "visit" more churches and hear more sermons than we ever could have under normal circumstances. Thanks to modern technology, we could worship in the comforts of our home on any day of the week; there was no dress code, eating was encouraged, and snugly blankets were required. Even in dark days, God is so good.
You see my conundrum. On one hand I am grieving with those who have been negatively impacted, yet on the other hand, I am thankful for the personal blessings that have come from this pandemic. Although these have been some very traumatic times for many, I pray that other families have been able to experience the silver lining to this dark cloud in American history.
It's true; what we are experiencing has been traumatic for countless individuals and their families. In my family alone, my children's lives have been deeply affected. They have been dealing with their own sense of loss.
My daughter, a sophomore at William & Mary, had to cut her semester short to come home and complete her courses. Bless her heart. Trying to take five classes that were never meant to be taught online, with the never-ending background noise coming from her siblings, has been challenging. In addition, she had to leave her friends, her routine, and a place she now calls "home" without a proper goodbye.
My oldest son saw his senior year abruptly come to an end. His varsity soccer season was cut short; they were undefeated and likely moving toward the championship. My boy missed out on prom, senior skip day, senior field day, and all the senior trips that were being planned. As if those disappointments weren't enough, he also had to grind out five AP classes online. At one point, even the dream of a high school graduation ceremony looked bleak.
Christian, my high school freshman, seemed to handle it fairly well. He was, of course, disappointed to not be able to workout with his buddies or attend football practice. However, the greatest blow for him came in the form of a driving permit; that great milestone would have to wait.
My not-so-little ones missed out on their fifth-grade graduation ceremony, field day, yearbook signing, and saying goodbye to their closest friends and teachers. Online learning was a challenge as we all had to learn various platforms and go through the tedious trial and error process. It was not always pretty in the Roy household, but we managed. Perhaps the most devastating realization for these girls was...no gymnastics for a while.
Yes, we will read many stories highlighting the personal impact stemming from the overwhelming events of this great pandemic. While the realities of this situation have, in many cases, been grim, there is a wonderful gift to this story that may be overlooked...the gift of time. What a precious gift. Before this, I could not tell you the last time we put a puzzle together, had a 3-hour Monopoly battle or had a Bob Ross painting night. Workouts became more creative. Walking the dogs became a daily thing. We colored with chalk, dyed our hair, played dozens of board games, and had outdoor movie nights. I was gifted with more lengthy conversations with my big kids than I can count. These moments have warmed my heart and blessed my spirit on a daily basis. We have been able to "visit" more churches and hear more sermons than we ever could have under normal circumstances. Thanks to modern technology, we could worship in the comforts of our home on any day of the week; there was no dress code, eating was encouraged, and snugly blankets were required. Even in dark days, God is so good.
You see my conundrum. On one hand I am grieving with those who have been negatively impacted, yet on the other hand, I am thankful for the personal blessings that have come from this pandemic. Although these have been some very traumatic times for many, I pray that other families have been able to experience the silver lining to this dark cloud in American history.
Love!
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