Too many things have happened since July 2020.

Being a caregiver during a worldwide pandemic is hard, y’all. I’m so very thankful that things seem to be better, but I still live every day life on the edge of an anxiety attack.

Shortly after our pandemic project was completed, and after much contemplation and discussion with our children and trusted medical providers, we made the decision to keep our children home for virtual school for the first nine weeks of the year. When things didn’t get better after the first nine weeks, the timeframe to return to school (and the office for me) was pushed out until the end of the semester. Things still weren’t where our medical providers wanted them to be around Thanksgiving – so, we just dove in and committed to finishing out the school year with our children at home.

I’m not going to pretend that it was easy. It most certainly was the most difficult thing we have ever done as a married couple, and as a family. Looking back on our 16 month quarantine, there were many moments when I thought I wasn’t going to be able to manage the crushing load of motherhood, wifehood, caregiverhood, and employeehood.

I want to take a moment to thank my boss for leading her team with integrity and empathy during the worst crisis we have ever faced as a team. We made it out alive, KW! Barely, but we did.

I also want to thank anyone who listened to me gripe about our situation. In actuality, we are so very lucky to have had this opportunity…I was able to maintain my employment, and protect our family from a virus that took 600,000 American lives.

Thank you to our first responders and all those who bear the title of a medical expert – or anyone that works in the medical field – this has been too much. I don’t know how you’ve done it. I wish you didn’t have to.

Lastly, to the incredibly agile teachers who made every single day count for my children – and for every child during this pandemic – my hats off to you all. I’m in awe of your skills. I could never do what you all do, and certainly not as well as you do it.

I have some caregiving and caregiver updates to share, but not today. I will be better about posting but I’ve been working really hard at giving myself more grace and forgiving myself for not being able to do all the things. I finally feel like I have my head screwed on right after a year and a half of not always knowing what direction I was moving in, so I’m hoping that you all are still interested in hearing about our journey and some of the things we’ve learned over the past year.

I’m really looking forward to writing for me again. Catch up soon.

rk<3