The 7 Stages Of Staying At Home

I’ve reached two weeks in the house. Hi. How are we all?

In between watching my kid do yoga (I’m jealous of her calm) and washing my hands, I’ve been writing down my thoughts.

And if you read me for the life updates, I’ve been um, upgraded since this interesting mishap.

Honestly, when we moved back to Edinburgh, I imagined a little more social and less social distancing. But here we are.

For my part, here’s a little list I like to call The 7 Stages of Staying Home.

Stage 1.

Let’s get all the snacks. This is the time I’ll write my book. And take vitamins. And sort out my desk.

Let’s line up what to watch. And read. Perhaps alphabetize our book shelves. (Not me, but you do you)

We can do this.

Stage 1b.

Yay, homeschooling!

Day 1: Morning yoga, Isla’s idea. Then some drawing.

Me: What’s that?

Isla: You, with fat calves.

Because I have skinny ones in real life.

Whatever. We can do this. This is fun. When’s lunch?

Stage 2.

Let’s open Facebook. Because we need a break from doing nothing. And eating. Scroll Facebook, get depressed. SOCIAL MEDIA BREAK.

Look at me, not on Facebook. Let’s do laps around the house. Yes, really.

It’s been ages. Check Facebook again, feeling refreshed.

Eight minutes have passed.

Stage 3.

Bored now. Let’s tour a museum online. Use this time to learn something. Revisit some writing goals.

The kid reads to me, not so bored now.

Did I mention my husband shaved his beard off? That’s new.

For more things to do in self-isolation, read this post from SimplyEmma.

Stage 4.

We need other humans. Contemplate video calls. Not there yet. Call parents. Check in with an online support group.

Like these:

​Blogging & Beverage and Gin & Lemonade’s FB page – these go with this blog, but they are really for you. At the moment, BAB has check-in and chat threads for everyone, no matter what you’re feeling.

​Bad Women – Run by a blogger friend who traveled to Skye for pizza on my daughter’s fourth birthday.

Stage 5.

Speaking of travel, how bored are we all now? So let’s daydream about travel. All those times we could leave the house Even if we chose not to, we could.

Isla: Can I use your purple hair wax?

Me: Go for it. It’ll be something different.

Read a book. Consider bookish armchair travel.

Stage 6.

Freak out a little. Or a lot. That’s OK, too. Screw it, let’s do a video chat. So we can be bored and alone together. Holy facing camera, Batman! Close video chat.

Read this post for better ways to cope with anxiety during lockdown.

Stage 7.

It’s OK. Staying home saves lives. And there’s still snacks left.

Maybe after all this time, I WILL try yoga.

Me: Aw, dude. Are you drawing our house?

Isla: No, it’s Daddy and his big feet.

Well. Some things don’t change.

What stage are you at? How are you doing?

Stay home and stay well.

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