Quality Time During Quarantine

These uncertain times hit us all quickly, and our everyday lives are now consumed with checking news alerts about the coronavirus. We are all trying to stay home and keep ourselves and our families healthy, while we also worry about the impact the quarantine is having on our local community. While we may struggle to lead school lessons at home and keep groceries stocked, we are also doing our best to appreciate what we have, and the gift of time we have been given. 

A social media ask 

Esty Zaklikofsky posed this question on Facebook: How is the quarantine positively impacting our lives now? It was nice to see a conversation unfold in which many took a step back to consider what we’re thankful for in this scary time. It inspired me to reflect and ask others what they’re thankful for, too. 

Rochel, Chana, Rivkah and Shaina Liba Zaklikofsky (pictured, from left) enjoy sharing their laptop while at home together.

For Esty, she said she is glad to see her kids at home together and getting along while sharing their electronics. Since her five older kids are now attending Torah Day School online, her youngest daughter Shaina Liba, age two, is thrilled to have all of her siblings at home.

Dana Hakimi shared some of the household lessons she has been teaching her son Adam, in eighth grade at Thrive Academy. “So far, we have learned to make an egg, start a wash, transfer clothes and start the dryer.” She taught him how to use their new stove and is also going to review folding and putting away the laundry. Dana is enjoying spending this time together, while also imparting important knowledge that her son will need. Next up: everything he needs to know about cars before he learns how to drive! 

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Sisters Ella and Eva Morris sharing their love of Harry Potter.

llyson Morris said she is happy to see a stronger relationship develop between her two daughters Eva and Ella, in fifth and second grades at Scanlan Oaks Elementary School. They have kept busy as each other’s sole playmates with cupcake baking, water balloon fights, balloon volleyball and twinning in matching Gryffindor t-shirts. Allyson said her daughters were close before, but shares, “My girls are bonding like nothing I’ve ever seen. This will be the life-changing event that solidifies them as best friends and not just sisters.” 

Throwback to retro times

Debbie Weinstein said she appreciates that working from home allows her to take walks earlier in the evening. She is marveling at the families and couples she sees responsibly strolling around the neighborhood and playing outside. She said she’s happy that kids are drawing with chalk on the sidewalks, and that parents and kids are playing basketball and ping pong together at home. These are things she does not ordinarily see.

Debbie says the neighborhood has come alive, and that it is “like 1978 all over again,” before cell phones and going out to eat consumed everyone’s time. While home, Debbie looks forward to baking cupcakes with her daughter Ellen, in ninth grade, while son Matthew, in fifth grade, is connecting with friends on FaceTime and playing virtual PlayStation basketball. 

Learning opportunity

Lyla Lerman is adding to a list of her family’s successes. 

Amy Lerman said she is taking this time to teach her family about gratitude, and what everyone can work on as a family. Amy, husband Marshall, and daughters Lyla and Sunny, in fifth grade and kindergarten at Beth Yeshurun Day School, created posters for their goals, along with what they are most proud of. This is an easy exercise which all families can do for themselves, and a fun way to spend time together. The sheets of paper highlighted mottos, gratitude for each other, individual successes and what is possible for each family member. They decorated them with markers and stickers. Amy shared that she is passionate about “strategies, resilience and grit,” which are good concepts to think about right now. She suggests we all look to our “inner coach” right now to take care of our families and provide the support they and our communities need. 

Family time

Barb and Emmy Brounes enjoyed making fried chicken together. 

While Ron Brounes said he realizes many families may cook together all of the time, for he and wife Barb, this has been an unexpected positive of the quarantine. They have been preparing dishes that they would never have committed the time to beforehand, such as chili, pasta, fried chicken and French fries, all from scratch. “I’m sure others have been doing this for years, but we never do,” shares Ron. Emmy, in seventh grade at The Emery Weiner School, and her sister Zoe, in third grade at Beth Yeshurun Day School, have loved learning new skills, and eating the results of their labor. They feel proud of themselves, and their new family motto is that “everything is better homemade!”

Shelley Riklin looks forward to her new daily dance parties to the “Daft Punk Medley” by Pentatonix with son Eli, age three. As the song says, “One more time, music’s got me feeling so free,” they can dance around the house, and appreciate what they have to be grateful for at this time. 

I know I am enjoying cooking with my kids, and my husband is getting home projects done. We are having fun with our daily walks and slip ‘n slide sessions and are literally taking the time to stop and smell the leaves on our citrus trees, and search for ladybugs and lizards.

Editor’s Note: We’d love to hear what you’re grateful for in these tough times, too. Comment below to share. If you have any story ideas, contact us at [email protected].