The Phoenix: Epicuriousmothering Rising

( This is how I’ve felt all week . . .like I’m all alone on top of a mountain without anyone for about twenty gazillion miles) I’m listening to an iTunes mix “Virtual Hug.” That’s where I am.  I miss them—hugs—so much that I  am forced to listen to a mix that is supposed to make me feel hugged.  So far, not so much, but I really appreciate the effort. I don’t even know why it’s so hard.  I mean, so many families not only have quarantine but they’re fighting this horrible sickness that debilitated them.  It’s the worst.  And I feel so so so bad for them.  So far, we’ve been so lucky and I know it.  I’m lucky in a bazillion ways and I know that, but it’s still hard. When I get out (it literally feels sort of like a prison sentence), I am going to make up little treat bags to drop off to all the quarantined families (oh, it’s real here, so real and happening).  The little drop offs, notes and text, well,  lets just say, they make me cry. ...

We all walked out of the house looking like this. . . Totally ready for a family photos shoot and didn't’ even plan it!   Oh Heavens to Betsy, what a week. Here’s a truthful response to this week: 1) Covid is, in fact, real. 2) Parents are precious and dear and we are grateful for each and every moment we have with them—however many that may be. 3) Choose your HARD: Being outside heals the soul and gives you perspective you wouldn’t get any other way.  Getting up to see the first light of day outline the mountains and watching the world wake up—worth the 45 minutes of lost sleep by a gazillion.  CHOOSE to do a hard thing. 4) I am, truth to tell, terrified of mountain biking but I do it because we should all do something we are afraid of as often as we can stand (for me—once a month). 5) There is waaaaaaaayyyy more kindness in the world around us than hate or anger or prejudice.   6) People want  to love you and help you and encourage you in your endeavors. ...

  Well. This has been a week. I can’t believe that I picked THIS week to write for seven days about things that are beautiful because it’s been a struggle.  Holy Hannah. Ug. Finnegan tested Positive (the rest of us are negative) We read our eyes out about symptoms and we both agree that Finnegan started his symptoms on Monday morning.  He woke up saying his throat hurt and he felt tired.  This is actually pretty common with him when he doesn’t get enough sleep so we asked him if he felt sick or anything and he said no and so off he went to school seeming 100% normal.  The next day said he felt a little tired and his nose ran but he said his throat was better so I gave him allergy medicine (another normal thing at our house this time of year—we all have allergies—I’ve had bad allergies all season) and off to school and so on and so forth until Thursday when he felt pretty much normal again but realized he might have had more exposure than the rest of us and thoug...