What this quarantine has taught me.

It is officially day number who really knows of this quarantine. By this time we have all lost our damn minds. The liquor stores shelves have been emptied by moms everywhere looking for some sort of relief from their newest job title of homeschooling. Our refrigerators are opened too many times a day to count by the savages. The media has fear mongered us into believing everything we see and read. And the walls of our homes have been gracefully redecorated by our kids. But this quarantine has taught me so much more then that.

In a major time of crisis we look to the head honchos, the big guys, you know the government to protect us. This quarantine has taught me those guys mean shit. On paper they sound amazing but put them close to fire and they burn under the pressure. Those guys are nothing but cowards who hide behind cameras and fill our minds with empty promises and false hope. When this is all over I hope everyone remembers that it wasn't them who saved us, it was the doctors, nurses, first responders, essential workers and scientists that were the glue who kept us all together. They were ones who put the pieces of this broken puzzle back together again. And above all, they are the only ones who deserve gratitude and praise when this is all said and done.

Having a front row seat to family members and close friends battle this demon head on I am that much more grateful for them and the ability to stay home myself. Please, I am begging you to stay home. I have witnessed family members have to be apart from their own kids due to their jobs, that time away is something they will never get back. Each day they put their life's on the line for you, do them a favor in return and stay the fuck home.

Before the world we knew came crashing down we all took for granted our everyday life. We took for granted full shelves at the groccery store, our teachers, doctors/nurses/first responders and our freedom. Above all we took for granted the ones whom we love most. Those family dinner nights, plans we regretted making, baseball games, time with friends, all of that. We treated it as it was our right, when all along it was nothing more then a privilege. I guess we all got so stuck in our rut that God thought we needed a wake up call. And if this quarantine hasn't done that for you yet, Lord have mercy on you.

Watching the world around you go dark is scary. Wondering when we return to "normal" what all will still be standing is a hard pill to shallow. Between the news, social media and just about any outlet, it is so easy to get sucked into the fear and misinformation. When this all began my anxiety went through the roof, I was sick to my stomach and played a million different horrific scenarios in my head but with time, this quarantine has given me back my life. I know sounds kind of silly right?

With all the time in the world and nowhere to go life forces us to slow down a bit. Take a step back and really evaluate our current situation. I quickly learned in all of this that the ones who truly care about you will make it known. They will be the first ones to check in on you, send you silly texts to calm your nerves, take up any and every chance to facetime you and just be there in any way they can. This quarantine has taught me that life is way too short to waste it spending time and effort on those who won't do the same for you or your child in return. It shouldn't take a world pandemic for someone to prove they care. Coming out of this I refuse to accept the half ass attempts.

Most of all this quarantine has allowed me to be fully present in my daughters life. Up until mid march I felt as if the days and nights all just blurred together. And on days they didn't, I was too tired or anxious to see otherwise. These past few weeks I have been able to teach, explore and love on my sweet girl unconditionally. We have spent many mornings cuddling on the couch and evenings falling asleep in our pillow forts. I don't know about you but I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world. This quarantine has flourished our relationship and I am forever grateful for the positive ways in which it has helped us grow together. Through this all, love still remains and stands tall.

I challenge you all to look for the positives in this uncertain time. No matter how hard it may seem, I promise they are there. Hug your loved ones tighter and never take them for granted again. Be kind, help however you can and appreciate the hell out of our medical and essential workers. Together we will get through this and come out that much smarter, stronger and grateful. Above all, please stay the fuck home. This quarantine has really shown us who the idiots in our society are.