This week will will be finishing up our second month of lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been such a strange sensation to move from the daily interactions with nearly 800 kids and adults at school to just my hubby. My computer is my lifeline, though I confess it's always my lifeline. When your kids live nearly 6,000 miles away, it's the next best thing to being there. So, I feel its value even more today because my world has gotten smaller. One thing I have realized is that primal instinct to connect with others, spread joy, and give love.. Watching the ways that some many people have stepped up to be caring and loving has moved and inspired me. While these times have been tough, we have also been blessed with the gift of time that I don't think I've had since I was a kid. Here are 5 ways that I have used my time to creatively connect with others or have been the recipient of caring and connections during lockdown.
2. Find a way to appreciate someone who is missing out on a special event/milestone. My heart goes out to people who are missing out on special events. No traditional graduations, funerals, baby showers, and weddings. We are having to rethink the way we celebrate and on the news I've seems some pretty creative ideas.
The last week in April/beginning of May is traditionally when the nation's State Teachers of the Year travel to Washington D.C. for a series of professional development and celebratory events for exciting, jam-packed week. One of the events that takes place is a visit to the White House and time with the president. I had my time with President Bush in 2008, which was an unforgettable experience. Due to the pandemic, the 2020 DoDEA TOY, Antoine Sharpe, did not get his Washington D.C. trip. It broke my heart that he would be missing out on his special time. So, another former DoDEA TOY had a wonderful idea. She set up a virtual surprise party via teleconference to celebrate Antoine. I was all in...but then, I got an idea...my creative bug was calling me. While this doesn't come close to replacing the real celebration, I hope that this virtual act of caring, lessened the sting of disappointment a but.
3. Reach out to old friends. Let's admit it. Life B.L. (before lockdown) was busy and hectic and rarely left time to connect. Sure, I connected on social media; liking or commenting on a photo, posting birthday and holiday wishes, and sometimes sending instant messages when time permitted. I rarely make it back to my hometown where I was born, so the connections with my old high school friends are rare, but when they happen, they are awesome. Yesterday we spent an hour on a Group Facetime call with girls who I grew up with. I'm sitting here shaking my head, wondering why we didn't do this more often. We've already set another date for next month. As ugly as this pandemic time has been, I am seeing that it has also brought the gift of time and opportunity to reestablish connections.
4. Make the time to get to know people better. When I am at school, I am going 100 mph. I eat lunch at my desk while I work. I go home after school. As a fairly introverted person, I am not highly social at school or outside of school, but I still enjoy connection. I realized that I work with nearly 100 people and other than a few people, I really have never made the time to get to know people outside of their classrooms. This is one of the big take-aways that this experience has brought to light for me. One of the ways that I tried to connect with my co-workers was by organizing virtual coffee and happy hours. I've gotten to know people who I've rarely spoken to in the past, for no other reason than just time.
5. Use technology as way to play with friends and family. What I would have give 35+ years ago to have been able to connect with my husband when we were a continent apart for nearly a year. Now, whether we are 5 miles away or 5,000 miles away, we can still enjoy the company of those who we hold dear. A friend of mine recently had a virtual birthday party for twins. Another mom holds a weekly, virtual dance party with her toddler. I love watching the music videos of people who are playing music together virutally through the use of apps, like Acapella. My daughter created a Kahoot game for her co-workers at a staff meeting. Well, I have discovered Bitmoji and Snapchat. When we are together, my daughter and I always got on her phone and took selfies with those silly filters. I know, I'm a bit late to the party or maybe I shouldn't even be invited since it's more for the younger set, but my goodness, I am addicted!!! I am finding so many ways to use these apps to create and connect (and to use in the classroom). I love it when my daughter and I communicate back and forth using our Bitmojis. She doesn't know it yet, but next on my list is Bitmoji Stories and Bitmoji Movies. Someone recently told me that Snapchat is a huge time-waster. I could easily fall into that rabbit hole, but I am actually finding it as a fun way to create. Actually, i have been getting flashbacks to my childhood love of making paper dolls and dressing up my Barbies. But even more importantly, I am able to use it as a playful way to connect with others, so it's a rabbit hole that I am making time to fall down these days.
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About CathyI'm a wife, mother, friend, educator, traveler, creator, tech lover, (and much more) inspired by Brene Brown's call to being vulnerable and daring greatly. Archives
May 2020
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