I’m going to be honest – I actually enjoyed quarantine. Okay, “enjoyed” might be a stretch, but allow me to clarify my feelings about COVID-19 and the quarantine itself. COVID is terrible. It has brought immense grief and loss. It has forced small businesses to shut down, closed schools, canceled weddings, and kept loved ones apart during significant moments. However, the quarantine that accompanied COVID? For me, that time has been about growth and reflection. It provided me with a chance to look inward and reconnect with myself.
Let me set the scene. Just before quarantine started, I was juggling my roles as a high school assistant principal, a college softball pitching coach, a side photography gig, and preparing for my Ph.D. dissertation defense – all while being eight months pregnant with my third child. “Wow! How do you manage all that?” people would often marvel. Honestly, I wondered the same thing. But now, I can see that I was managing it all at a significant cost – a cost that was largely invisible, impacting my physical and mental well-being. I was irritable, exhausted, anxious, and often a distant partner and distracted mother. My life was filled with mental checklists, after-hours emails, and arguments over keeping our calendar organized. I was anything but truly present.
When life came to a sudden halt on that March afternoon, it turned out to be the best thing for me. This pause made me confront my reality and reassess my happiness. The disruption of “normal” prompted me to examine what my normal really was. As we gradually emerge from quarantine (for better or worse), I find it crucial to take time to reflect, journal, connect with my loved ones, and contemplate how I want to define myself moving forward. I came across an insightful post from Tom Richards that said, “In the eagerness to return to normal, take a moment to evaluate which aspects of normal are actually worth rushing back to.” YES. This is what I’ve been challenging myself to think about lately.
I remember fondly searching for seashells along the shores of Florida with my grandfather, who crafted a sifter at the end of a long pole. We’d fill the sifter with sand, shake it out, and examine the treasures left behind. This is how I’m processing my future – reflecting on what’s worth keeping and what’s not.
What Are My Treasures?
The most significant change has been the pace of my life. I’ve embraced a slower, calmer rhythm, and I genuinely enjoy it. I feel like I can finally breathe. Previously, I took pride in multitasking, believing that busyness equated to happiness. I was wrong! I’ve even discovered the joy of napping! I now recognize the importance of not filling every moment with activity. I need to learn to be comfortable with that open space. While this slower pace may not be entirely sustainable, I’m exploring ways to integrate it more fully into my life.
I’ve also become more present as a mother. I’ve spent quality time with my children that I would have otherwise missed. Yes, there were days when I juggled a Google Meet while nursing one baby, making a PB&J for another, and keeping an eye on the third, but there have been countless moments that allowed for genuine connection – from magical morning walks with homemade wands to delightful afternoon picnics in the backyard, and of course, baking together was a big quarantine activity!
What Didn’t Serve Me?
I haven’t had as much alone time with my partner as I’d hoped. Between a newborn and limited escapes, our “alone time” has been crammed into the hours between putting the kids to bed and our own bedtime. I’ve wrestled with anxiety surrounding COVID and the tough decisions it brings. I’ve spent too much time lost in social media and indulged in lots of dark chocolate (which I guess is somewhat justified!). The lines between work and family time have blurred, making it challenging to balance everything and the lack of social interaction has been tough too.
Now, my mission is to process all of these experiences and prepare for the future as we gradually emerge from quarantine. I must find ways to maintain the positives that have surfaced during this time. This may mean waking up early for journaling, saying no to additional work commitments, opting for a walk instead of mindless scrolling, or prioritizing creative activities with my kids over chores. I aim to be intentional about date nights and continue therapy for my anxiety.
The reality is, staying on this path will require effort. As humans, we tend to revert to our old habits. But just like a stretched elastic band that can loosen with time, I want to keep expanding my comfort zone. I need to mindfully choose actions that align with my new intentions for reemergence.
While COVID has been a struggle, the quarantine has brought me clarity. I no longer want to maintain the facade of “doing it all.” I simply want to breathe, be present, and create space for reflection and growth.
That’s what I intend to keep doing – searching for my treasures and letting the tides take the sand back.
Search Queries:
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Summary:
In this reflective piece, a school administrator and mother of three navigates the challenges and revelations experienced during quarantine. While acknowledging the hardships brought by COVID-19, she shares how the pause allowed her to reassess her life and prioritize her well-being. Embracing a slower pace, she found joy in spending quality time with her children and reevaluating her commitments. The article emphasizes the importance of intentionality in maintaining positive changes as society resumes normalcy.
SEO Metadata:
Keywords: School Administrator, Quarantine Experience, Parenting, COVID-19, Mental Health, Work-Life Balance, Reflection, Growth