Notes on solo parenting 5 kids through a spouse’s covid isolation

 1. It sucks.

2. Like, a lot. Because not only was I doing all of the things ALONE, but, also, I was WORRIED about Ben, about Minnie and Cooper (who were with him all day Saturday), about the rest of us, etc etc etc.

3. I did not change any sheets— except Ben’s and mine this morning, after 5 days of isolation and 3 days of negative tests. HOORAY! I also washed the duvet covers (boooooo) and all the bathroom linens and bleached the bathroom so aggressively I might have ruined the countertops and the cabinet finishes. OH WELL. 

4. I might be too old to share a kid bathroom and sleep on the couch for 5 nights. SO HAPPY to move back to my bedroom and bathroom TODAY.

5. I am really proud of myself for getting everyone where they needed to go and keeping to all of our routines. I even cooked dinner every night. And! I meal planned HILARIOUSLY badly when you consider that someone was eating meals IN BED. We had spaghetti one night, meatball subs another. Ben was like “Phew, thank goodness I am out for taco night because loose meat sounded MESSY.” 

6. I was very happy with my inexpensive moisturizers both at night and in the morning. But the only moisturizing product I grabbed when I switched bathrooms was a Lancôme Renergie small-size that was in my Christmas Lancôme kit. AND MY SKIN LOOKS GORGEOUS. I have been using it morning and night even though it has sunscreen, and I think I am hitting Macy’s on my way to work to buy a bigger version of the day cream and a Renergie night cream. Seriously. MY SKIN LOOKS SO GOOD even though I have slept terribly.

7. Now that I have a spouse up and about again, every single thing in my life seems easier because there is another pair of hands. Definitely wearing my rose-colored glasses today.

8. I am proud of myself like I said in #5, BUT. Many things slid through cracks. More than once, for example, Minnie ate a meal on a towel on the floor of the UW pool while Coop had practice. Also, she peed all the way through her pull up and clothes more than once. Dorothy has forgotten to wear her retainer to school most days, and Harry and Jack fell behind turning in work at school because I just didn’t nag them quite as often. A lot happens around here!

Floor food:

But look! We made swim lessons AND our TLG class and coffee:

Harry manned the Little League draft in Ben’s stead after MUCH PREPARATION and a 5-page draft plan

Cooper went through many applesauces trying to swallow a whole pouch in one mouthful. Made it. He’s going to be a legend in his fraternity.