Before the Lockdown:

Earlier in 2019, the stress was affecting my health, and I was desperate to make a change, and I did. In the Spring and Summer of 2019, I began therapy for myself. June of 2019, my family and I went to the beach to celebrate Father’s Day weekend. It was the perfect weekend, weather wise. Fall of 2019 began the mark of my oldest and youngest daughter going to school. My youngest began her preschool, whereas my oldest started pre-K. I was also working a part-time job, as my Husband continued to pursue his full-time work. We still had our daily routine. It was around October when Hubby began a new job, and in November, I attended my HBCU Homecoming, because I haven’t been in 10 years. Everything was the norm for me. I was never the one to go out that much really. Ever since becoming a wife and mother, I’ve been putting so much time and energy into my family, trying to get better and do better for them.

January 1, 2020:

Me and the girls were watching the Rose Parade. My oldest love parades. I remembered feeling highly emotional while I was watching tv. Then weeks to come, the news of COVID began to spread like the virus itself. It began in Washington State. Then, hitting California, New York, one by one, each state was getting hit by the virus. It all became a domino effect. Hubby and I kept up to date, while continuing our daily routines. My kids became sick with a bad cold by the end of January into February, but not Coronavirus related. Still, our routine continued. I became unmotivated at my part-time job and quit. Reflecting that the past four years since being a stay-at-home mom and wife, I still had high hopes of being a writer and making something out of it. This can’t be life.

March 2020:

Hubby and I met with the principal of the elementary school where our oldest will begin Kindergarten. Then after that, the last IEP meeting we had with her teachers. At her school, the distancing began. Then, the governor of my home state of North Carolina declared the stay-at-home order. In the county I lived, they followed suit. Hubby has an underlying health condition, so he speaks with HR at his job and he has to remain at home, along with the employees who have similar situations. Schools are closed.

After the Lockdown (Currently):

Time has stood still it seems. I have been continuing to express my artistic self that makes me happy and keep me centered. Family bonding has grown in our household. My oldest now refers to Circle Time as the Zoom calls her teachers have been planning since schools have been closed for the rest of year. Still, 2020-2021 Academic Schoolyear seems vague nowadays. I’ve been homeschooling both girls, and I’ve been watching them grow, blossom, growing brighter and smarter. They’re no longer babies. Hubby and I have been up under each other every day. People want to assume, oh people who are in relationships are married can get that loving any time they want. Not necessarily true. When you’re used to a routine where you pass each other by, or busy with kids, it just seemed normal. Now, everything has paused, and you’re in each other’s faces every day, it feels very different than what you’re used to. We have been enjoying watching shows, playing the Nintendo Switch and really spending quality time with our kiddos.

A lot has happened. This just shows that you never know what can occur in your life, that’s bigger than you. I had some plans set in motion about 2020, but then I’ve been wrestling with those thoughts and stating to myself to let the chips fall where they may. Now because of COVID, it seems like there’s more that I have to reflect and realize. On a national note, just like how after 9/11 things haven’t been the same, we know for sure things won’t be the same now. Makes you wonder how people felt when the Spanish Flu subsided in 1920. How did they feel?