Yesterday, my partner was sitting beside me, attempting to piece together a puzzle—this has become our new normal. As he worked, I noticed a peculiar habit; he was making a strange noise with his mouth and nose. It was almost as if he was deliberately inhaling through his nose and then exhaling loudly through his mouth.
Alright, I’ll admit it—he was just breathing. But had he really been doing it so loudly all these years? I couldn’t help but think he had some nerve. It must have been my intense glare that prompted him to quietly leave the room.
The reality is, I’ve never needed him more. He’s the sole grocery getter in our household, a role that has become increasingly vital during these challenging times. Before the quarantine began, we had stocked up on supplies, but our children’s voracious milk consumption meant a grocery run was unavoidable. My husband graciously volunteered to tackle the Costco trip. Since I usually handle the shopping, I figured it best to provide him with a detailed list.
The List Included:
- Something essential
- Something slightly less crucial
- Something unfamiliar yet significant
- Toilet Paper
- White Wine
- Milk
- Other minor items
After a lengthy wait in a line snaking around the store, he returned two hours later, and the kids and I were parched and a tad irritable. As I unpacked the groceries, I discovered he had bought a single bottle of white wine. Just one. My disbelief was palpable—was this all I had for the quarantine? Panic set in.
He looked at me, unphased, and said, “Lisa, you don’t even drink white wine.”
Okay, fine. He had a point. Red is my choice, and he knows that. But given the pandemic’s strange circumstances, I thought I might experiment with white wine. A little fun, right?
Three hours later, we reached a compromise. I would specify “wines” in the future, and he would adhere to my requests. This incident is just one of many ways the COVID quarantine has tested our relationship in peculiar ways.
This isolation has afforded us the rare chance to spend excessive time together—along with our three children. It’s an experience that has brought its own challenges.
We’ve been married for nearly a decade, yet most of that time has been consumed by work and rest. If I evaluate our typical day, we would see each other for about five hours, mostly spent managing meals, homework, and bedtime. Though we communicate throughout the day, our time together has always been limited.
The quarantine has shifted this dynamic. Now we’re together for 16 hours daily (minus those precious eight hours of sleep). In the past six weeks, we’ve accumulated nearly 672 hours together, an increase of 372 hours. To put it in perspective, that’s roughly equivalent to 75 extra days—almost three whole months.
With this surplus of time, I’ve learned intriguing things about my husband. He stays on work calls while using the restroom, wakes up at 6:00 a.m. for no apparent reason, and randomly shaves off his beard without consulting me first. Did he think I could handle such a surprise?
I’ve also discovered much about myself. For instance, I can still sleep until 10:00 a.m. (score!). I would close the blinds at 5:00 p.m. if given the chance. When stressed, I tend to yell, and I bake as a means of coping.
Above all, I’ve come to realize that perfection is a myth. My husband and I are far from flawless, but together, we navigate this bizarre new reality. We’ve been contemplating how to celebrate our upcoming ten-year anniversary, considering a trip to Napa or possibly Mexico. Yet, I think we don’t have to wait until fall to acknowledge our decade together; these extra 75 days count too.
So, I plan to open a bottle of white wine and toast to us, and to every couple enduring this strange period together—even if “home” now feels like a loaded term. These are truly unusual times, and it’s a blessing to have a partner to share them with. For more insights on navigating this journey, check out this post or visit Make a Mom for authoritative advice. Additionally, Medical News Today offers excellent resources on pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, the quarantine has substantially altered the dynamics of my marriage, revealing both the strengths and weaknesses within our relationship. While the challenges are numerous, they have also provided us with a deeper understanding of each other.
Leave a Reply