7 Quick Takes about Treatments for Pandemic Fatigue, Encouraging Notes from My Children, and What to Say When You Can't Remember the Word "Migration"

It's 7 Quick Takes Friday! How was your week?

—1—

Life must be confusing when you're little. The other day I asked the 4- and 6-year-olds what they wanted for lunch who of course said different things.

"Hmm... I'm not making two things so let's get a third opinion," I said. "We'll ask your sister which one she wants and make whatever has the most votes."

I was halfway finished making lunch when the 4-year-old, who'd been quietly mulling over the situation, asked "What's an opinion?"

—2—

My 14-year-old was lying on the couch with a cushion on top of her, so I sat on it. I kind of like having kids big and sturdy enough that I can do that without worrying I'll crush them.

I expected her to groan, but she just said (in a muffled voice from somewhere beneath the cushion) "This is nice. It's kind of like a weighted blanket... that is expressly trying to kill you."

I guess I must've been getting heavy, after all.

—3—

I'm really into classic movies (1940s and 1950s) right now. We just finished His Girl Friday and Singin' in the Rain is sitting on the counter waiting for me.

I think I'm experiencing pandemic fatigue, and this is my version of Hallmark movies. With an old movie, I know what I'm getting into. I know it's going to be heartwarming. I know it's going to have clever dialogue. I know it's going to make me laugh and have a happy ending.

So what should I watch next? Suggestions, anyone?

—4—

Does your school district still do traditional snow days? Ours does, which I'm really glad for. Virtual school days are so boring for my kids. They already don't get to see their friends or do their normal activities... at least let them play in the snow and be excited about something.

However, I'd be a better mom if I didn't gear up for snow days like some people get ready for their Superbowl parties. I often feel like I should plan Something Super Fun And Amazing, which never looks as good in real life as it does in my head. 

This time, I made some cockamamie scheme that involved precisely timing the packing of the car and getting everyone in snow gear, dropping the 14-year-old off at work, and picking up the 16-year-old's friend on the way to the sledding hill. It required a Herculean level of coordination and I handled it by becoming a stressed-out yelling mess, as evidenced by this note my 9-year-old left me:

I think she meant it to be encouraging, not condescending.

At any rate, we got to the sledding hill and once we were there, everyone ended up having fun. Even me. 

That's the 4-year-old on the blue sled. He was a total beast out there.

—5—

We were in the yard when some geese flew overhead, honking and heading south for the winter. My 6-year-old looked up and yelled, "Hey, hawks! What're ya doing, hibernating?"

So close and yet... not correct at all, not even a little bit. 

—6—

Remember how my 9th grader randomly got signed up for Beginning Guitar as a school elective ? 

She wasn't happy about it at first, but by the time Beginning Guitar started this week, she'd decided it would be fun and was ready to give it a try.

Because of the snow day, she wasn't able to pick up her guitar which made for a boring first few days of class. She just sat there on her computer and listened to the teacher explain how to play the chords. 

I suggested that the class should be renamed Beginning Air Guitar.

Now that my daughter's got her guitar, she's enjoying it and I have to say, so am I. As someone who encourages her kids to play sports she doesn't mind watching and instruments she doesn't mind listening to, I can whole-heartedly endorse Beginning Guitar.

—7—

One last thing before I go: I stumbled upon this YouTube video called "If Regular People Had Hype Videos" and it inspired me. Give it a watch, then go out and be awesome today.

Make it epic.

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