A glass for a mask
7 Deadly Zins
Thanks to COVID-19, I haven't worked at my "real job", as a Physical Therapist, in almost a month. And not going to work has really made me consider: what is my "real job"? My career is as a physical therapist, and I love that career. I am an extrovert, and working with people every day feeds my spirit. I love watching people move, and figuring out how to help them move better, more efficiently, and in a way that will help them improve some vital part of their life. I miss seeing my patients, and talking to them about their lives, and families, and health. But being home for the last month, much of it spent with all 3 of my kids at home every day, has made me realize that my real job is, and always should be, being their mom first.
I work hard as a PT, putting all of my energy in to my day. But what I've realized in the last month is that putting all of my energy in to my day at work left nothing for home. I was frequently snappy at my kids and husband, with very little patience, and even less humor. My kids are little, and more than anything in their lives right now, they need a mom who has time for them. I never, EVER, thought I'd want to be a stay at home mom, but this pandemic has made be think hard about what's really important.
Does my family need to return to normal?
What was normal anyway?
Was normal before March 2020 the best normal we could have?
Our normal now involves a little bit of school work every day, a bit more screen time than I'd like, and a whole lot of playing. My older boys are thick as thieves - they're like an old married couple. They fight hard, and forgive quickly, and every night they crawl in to their double bed that they begged to share. My youngest is 2, and in his own room, but I know he'd be over the moon to join in with the older boys in their room. We've been cooking, and I've been letting them help more. Because I have more time, and more patience, because I'm home. They're getting all of me, and I love it.
And during rest time, which is mandatory for at least an hour even for the oldest, I've been busy making masks. If you asked my husband he'd tell you I'm a fabric hoarder, and I wouldn't deny it. So, I've been plowing through my stash of quilting fabric fat quarters that I bought for some unknown reason years ago. I've got the mask pattern down to a science now, and once the rectangles are cut (9"x6", if you're wondering) I can crank out a mask in about the length of a Taylor Swift song... her station on Amazon Music is awesome and keeps me in the groove while I'm working. I've been sending masks out to friends and family locally and around the country. Last week, a friend asked if I had any to spare, and of course I did. I whipped up some awesome Avengers masks for her boys, and in exchange she gifted me with a delicious bottle of wine.
7 Deadly Zins is dry with a sweetness that lingers for a minute after it's gone. It's not heavy at all, but it's got a little bit of body behind it making a glass last through dinner, and another one after the kids bedtime is still not too much. It's late tonight, and I need to get classwork ready for my oldest for the new school week tomorrow, but I don't think it's too late for just one... more... glass...
