silver linings

[Anonymous]

My teens are actually getting enough sleep, more or less on their type of schedule (go to bed at 11, wake up at 9/10).

My littles are able to spontaneously play outside whenever they want. It starts raining and they run outside to stomp in the puddles - instead of being stuck at school and being denied recess because it's raining!

There are so many negatives, it seems like a good idea to highlight the positives occasionally.

[Anonymous]

My tween and teen are also getting more sleep and seem happier. As a family, I think we’ve learned that a lot of the things we cared so much about before coronavirus just don’t matter. We will definitely be scaling back our extracurriculars when this is over to prioritize family time and quality of life instead. No more rat race for us!

[Anonymous]

I get to wear pants without buttons every day.

[Anonymous]

My husband has always been an incredible and devoted father. But my older DS (5) has always just wanted me more, and had friction with his father. But my job is more demanding right now, so DH just plays with the kids for hours a day. The older one now begs to play with DH and it makes me so happy to see that he finally appreciates him!

[Anonymous]

Last night DS8 asked to see the sunset. We walked to a grassy area and stood there for an hour watching the birds fly by, the sun entirely setting and then counted how many stars we saw. That's a pretty different Wednesday night for us, and I'm glad we got to do that together. Typically we'd be rushing to sports practice, choking down dinner, getting homework done, rushing bedtime and packing lunches for the next day.

[Anonymous]

Loving the slower pace of life. My kids are definitely happier and better behaved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get to wear pants without buttons every day.

haha - yes! soft pants, aaahhh

[Anonymous]

My 8 year old night owl has always struggled to fall asleep, even with tons of exercise. Now he can stay up until 10 and sleep until 8. He really enjoys all the time to tinker and play independently. I thought he'd want to watch tons of tv but there have been several days where he doesn't watch any at all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get to wear pants without buttons every day.

I don't get this.

[Anonymous]

I hate everything about this but I 100% appreciate the fact that this is good for our tweens/teens. I was so over-scheduled as a high schooler between working, after school activities, and homework. I’d go to bed at midnight and wake up at 5:30 am, because my bus came at 6:30, and I had a 30 minute ride to school which started at 7:10. As a teen, I would have loved this kind of break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get to wear pants without buttons every day.

LOL yes. I put "real" pants on yesterday and - ugh - now I get why leggings-only kids protest so much!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get to wear pants without buttons every day.

I don't get this.

I feel sad for you that you don't get this.

[Anonymous]

I love my job but I am typically so tired by early to mid afternoon but must power through until I get home and can take a nap so that I will be able to enjoy the evening.

Now I can sleep whenever I want and it is pure heaven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband has always been an incredible and devoted father. But my older DS (5) has always just wanted me more, and had friction with his father. But my job is more demanding right now, so DH just plays with the kids for hours a day. The older one now begs to play with DH and it makes me so happy to see that he finally appreciates him!

Same here. Dh is childcare right now as I'm still going to the office most days. He and the kids (preschooler and baby) are really bonding. Spending time outside, coming up with crazy involved games and tea parties and all the dinosaur information possible. It's great to see DD ask for daddy to do bedtime even after he's been with her all day.