Right now, leaves are swirling around my living room. The other day, during yet another drive-thru outing (a frequent activity for us lately), my daughter insisted on bringing her favorite blanket along for the ride. Normally, I would have told her to leave it behind to avoid any mess from fries and ketchup stains. But honestly, what joy does this kid have to look forward to these days?
So, I let her take it, and of course, she ended up dragging it through the garage and into the car, bringing back a few leaves, some twigs, and a couple of pine needles. You know what? I genuinely don’t mind. The little mess on my floor reminds me of carefree outings on sunny days.
This pandemic has drastically shifted my lifestyle. Perhaps it’s because I’ve come to appreciate the importance of living in the moment, or maybe it’s simply that sharing constant space with my kids has made me conserve my energy for real battles. With housekeeping or personal grooming taking a backseat, I’ve realized that I have all the time in the world to catch up on those tasks.
But honestly, the biggest reason is that the initial stress of this pandemic drained me completely. To cope, I’ve adopted a more laid-back approach, akin to how many men seem to navigate life.
My laundry is nowhere near the usual schedule. The freezer is stocked with frozen pizzas, burritos, cookie-coated ice cream bars, nacho supplies, and a variety of ramen noodles. I used to insist my kids eat healthier options, but this is quarantine life. If my daughter wants to heat up leftover nuggets from last night’s fast-food run, good for her. She deserves a break, and frankly, so do I. The pressure to always do the “right” thing feels overwhelming.
My daily wardrobe has become a sweatshirt and underwear because, well, it can be. Right now, I’m wearing my son’s oversized sweatshirt, the only clean piece of clothing available. I’ve stepped outside in my pajamas more times than I can count since the stay-at-home order began.
When I heard on the news that we should replace toothbrushes every three weeks, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Our toothbrushes are just fine since my kids and I haven’t interacted with anyone else in weeks. Keeping up with every guideline is simply not feasible.
As for the emails from my kids’ teachers about missing assignments? I just forward them to the kids and let them handle it on their own. I barely recognize myself these days, and my children surely see a different version of me. The uptight mom who constantly checked on everything is gone, replaced by a more relaxed figure who is merely trying to get by.
This newfound freedom is liberating. Parenting during a pandemic doesn’t come with a manual. Every day, I focus on surviving my mood and indulging in what feels right at the moment.
Society has long dictated that mothers must juggle everything: work, home, and family responsibilities. I fell into that trap, as many women do. But men don’t seem to carry the same burden, nor do they feel judged for not meeting all expectations. Breaking free from this pattern has been refreshing, even if it took a global crisis for me to see it.
Yes, I want the pandemic to end. Yes, I care about my kids’ well-being. But for now, I’m enjoying the ease of not stressing over their vegetable intake or micromanaging their activities. Life currently consists of ice cream for dinner and microwave popcorn as a bedtime snack, along with overflowing laundry baskets and questionable outfit choices. This is my authentic self, living in the moment, and it’s working just fine.
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Summary:
During quarantine, I’ve adopted a more laid-back parenting style, focusing on living in the moment rather than adhering to the usual standards of cleanliness and nutrition. The pandemic has shifted my priorities, allowing me to embrace a more relaxed approach, which has been liberating despite the challenges.
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