An Open Letter to the “New Normal”

Dear New Normal,

It’s not exactly nice to meet you, but that’s what you say when you introduce yourself to someone new for the first time, and I won’t let a global pandemic get in the way of manners.

I wasn’t excited that you showed up on my planet, but now that you’re here, we need to get along.  Yes, you turned my world upside down. Yes, I’m working from home now, even though I already had everything set up on my desk at work.  (Oh work. The place where the people are…er….were.)  

But, for now.  We work from home.  

So, New Normal, you and I are going to need to get along.

I’m willing to do a few extra things if you are.  I’m willing to homeschool needy kids, learn to make bread, live in jammie pants, ready the plethora of school emails, stay updated to city and state regulations, wash my hands, remind everyone else to wash their hands, and eat all of the Hershey Kisses that Pennsylvania ever produced.  

I will; I will do these things.  

But here’s what I need from you: 

Structure  

Kids need structure, and so do I.  So just because you’re here doesn’t mean that we are going to undo the whole schedule.  Sure, we can make adjustments and go for walks in the middle of nice days, but mostly, we have to stay on track.

Why?  Because life is going on.  School is still happening. Work is still happening.  

A daily routine, even an adjusted routine, is still necessary.  Oh, and I’m really going to need to keep this daily showering thing mandatory.  Teenage boys are stinky. (And so are adult men.)

Goals

I could say that I’m going to get up extra early and get an hour of work done before the house gets up.  I could say that I’m going to make these hungry, hungry hippos breakfast each morning. But, let’s be honest.  Those would be lies.  

With kids around and your partner distracting you, only prioritize a few things a day.  And, be realistic. You’ll have to work in chunks of time instead of long, focused sessions. You will be interrupted.  This comes with the territory.

Work on the most important things first and let everything else come second.  

A desk

You’re not going to get anything done if you’re working from the kitchen table at the same time Eager-to-Learn-Suzie is having a puppet show with other 3 year olds.  Not happening.  

A work environment with privacy is imperative.  If you don’t have a separate room to dedicate to your new office, create boundaries around the spaces you do have available.  Set expectations of what time you’ll be “at work” and at what time you can help with long division.  

(Civic) Education

No, New Normal, we’re not watching the news 24/7.  (We need screen time available for the kids so we can actually work!)  But, we do have to stay somewhat updated on current events that impact the family.  Read the emails from school. Check in on your neighbors and community. Stay updated on new topics, especially the SBA loans and grants that are offered.  (We created a really helpful Facebook group dedicated to the SBA loans and grants.  Click here to join .)

There is a lot happening, New Normal.  There’s a lot of adjustment, explanation, grieving, and patience.  We’re all going a little stir-crazy too, which doesn’t help.  

I’ll hold up my end of the bargain.  I mean, those Hershey Kisses aren’t going to eat themselves.  But take into consideration what I need too.  

Thanks for listening, and now I need a snack.

Love,

Amber

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