Up sides?

[mommyatty]

I need an optimism boost. I’ve been doing a mindfulness exercise where I count good things. So here are some I’ve thought of.

1. I’ve confirmed I really like working from home. Before this started I was being recruited for a job with a consultant where pretty much everyone works from home all the time. I wasn’t sure I would do well in that environment. I would.
2. I like my husband more than I thought I did. 
3. My daughter is resilient as hell. I didn’t know that about her.
4. I’m not traveling for business, and because I’m not in the office, I don’t miss travel at all.
5. My son is really funny. On purpose. It’s fun to see his personality developing. He will be 6 on the last day of April, and he’s becoming such a person in his own right instead of the baby in the family.

What do you guys have in terms of optimism or upsides?

[mae0111]

I really love that we've had to slow down. The spring was shaping up to be really insane schedule-wise. DD1 was going to play softball 2-3 days a week, then therapy appointments and piano. DD2 was in soccer 3 days a week, plus piano. Then they both liked the Running Club at their school, which took up the only remaining free day - Fridays.

It's been nice not to be on such a rigid schedule. We do school work, take a drive, go for walks and bike rides. They find art projects to do. They've been playing a TON of basketball since we have a hoop out front. Dh has been able to spend more fun time with them. He works so much that most of his interactions were around dinner-bath/shower-bed, but now he can join them for a quick game of horse when he wraps up.

[twinmomma]

Thanks for this. I like hearing the positives!
1. I've been cooking! And baking! Nothing fancy, but it's been kind of fun to be in the kitchen actually working on recipes. I have time for it since no commute and time is fluid anyway right now. The girls and I even made a "bucket list" of stuff we want to try making. One item on their list was Jello. So easy and they were so excited about it! Since we have to eat anyway, it makes it a little more fun that way.
2. It's brought beau and I a lot closer together. Co-parenting through this has been tough for both of us and we've almost been forced to open up to each other more about it.
3. I've had time to work on a hand sewing project that I kind of forgot about. It's refreshing to take it slow and work on something while watching movies instead of at my machine.
4. I remembered how much I love going for walks. I went for a 2 mile walk in the sun, listening to my audio book the other day and felt so refreshed after.

[mustardseed2007]

1. I also like my husband more than I thought I did. That has been the best surprise of all.
2. The part about working for home that is good is that I'm glad my husband can see me do my job, I think it makes him understand me more.
3. I think my kids weren't in any activities that were super important and I'm glad that we aren't running our asses off to get them places in rush hour evening traffic anymore.
4. I have been helping my son with a social studies project and I really like his perspective on the historical characters.
5. My daughter can really read. I've watched her read a full series of piggie and gerald books and it's amazing.
6. The team I work with in risk management work really hard. They are all female, all smart and all are really good people.

[waverly]

1. Sleeping in for me and DD. We are not morning people.
2. No more rushing around. Rushing to work, rushing to school, rushing home, rushing dinner, rushing to get to activities
3. We would have had baseball. It’s hard for me to say no to sports for DS because he was delayed motor skills wise, and they help so much, but the only sport that has mostly good weather is soccer. Baseball is typically very cold here.
4. We got a puppy. She is a lot of work and adjustment, but she seems to pick up training well so far. Poor thing is literally getting spayed right this second (apparently they stopped spaying in the county with the big city but are still allowing spaying in our county). They do curbside animal drop off and pick up. I feel bad that she will be in pain for a while. It’s good for the kids to experience taking care of a dog, although our cat is not a fan.
5. I think I like DH as well. We have our moments, but big picture we are a team.
6. DS is past most of his medical issues. If this had happened when he needed heart surgery or tonsil surgery or tubes or hearing aids this would much more stressful. Developmentally we are in a holding pattern which is fine for when the world is on hold. I am still wrapping my head around summer, but if it is cancelled there is always next year. I am thankful my kids are still young during all this instead of high school seniors.
7. The kids get to see me do my job which makes it more real to them.
8. I’ve done more crafts, baked and more cleaning then ever before. I just never had time before. I’m still working but not full time at home.

[phdmomma]

1. Sleeping in, we still wake up at 7am to start the workday, but that is a whole hour later than normal.
2. The money which we are currently not paying in childcare, I would rather childcare be open, but if its closed I do appreciate the savings and putting more in the e-fund.
3. That so far we are both getting paid, although there may be furloughs at the university depending on how bad our budget looks when all of this shakes out.
4. Getting to sit on my porch swing and work while the kids play in the yard.

[Deleted]

1. I love the slow down. I’ve been able to bake with my kids, watch random TV shows with them, garden with them, play board games with them. Stuff that normally falls by the wayside due to lack of time.

2. I love not having to wake up to an alarm.

3. I have been taking a long walk every day. I normally walk daily, but my normal walk during the week is about 2 miles and now it’s closer to 4, with 5-6 on the weekends instead of 3-4 on the weekends. It’s good for my soul.

4. We are saving so much money not paying for kid daycare or dog daycare or gas or activities or DHs lunches out every day or the kids school lunches.

[librarychica]

1. I have been spending more time outside. Working at my patio table in the evenings, taking more walks, etc.
2. My oldest has really stepped up with her sister. Without her, I’m pretty confident the 5yo would have spent the last 3 weeks attached to my leg and sobbing.
3. All of my neighbors are home and outside so we are getting to know one another across our driveways. Hello, dude who evidently works for the same company as me and lives a street away but I have never met!

[traveltheworld]

1. Learning to do arts and crafts. I hated arts and crafts and always delegated that to our nanny. But now I realize I could just look stuff up on Youtube. We've done multiple paintings this week and I actually really enjoy it.
2. The kids getting along better.
3. DS taking on more responsibility. he made breakfast every morning this week. It's just eggs, pancakes and cereal so far, but still, pretty good for a 7 year old!

[k3am]

1. Sleeping in. 7am wake up vs 5am is fabulous.
2. I've had time to workout. I've worked out every day except Wednesdays (rest day) but even on Wednesdays, I've had time for walks around the neighborhood.
3. I am a homebody. I like my home.
4. My kids are good to each other. Most of the time. It's nice to see them that way.
5. Zero fights about clothing or DD's hair. We're not seeing anyone, so if she wants to wear purple pants and a green shirt.. who cares? I'm not worried about lice, so hair down is okay. If DS insists on a tank top and shorts and later decides he's cold, he can change.
6. I love my husband. I already knew that. But being around him 24/7, I can honestly say I also just... like him.

[mellym]

1. The slow pace of life is simple and really nice.
2. We are playing more games, doing puzzles, being silly together, making forts
3. I have time to cook and bake. I actually enjoy it when I have time for it.
4. I appreciate how calm my DH is and approaches life. It's really cool to see him in his element on conference calls while the kids are freaking out or climbing all over him. The guy doesn't flinch or seem to care.
5. More time with the kids - DD3 is potty trained!
6. Working outside, taking walks/bike rides with the kids for a mental break.

[erinshelley21]

I need this today. I'm in a funk and have been trying to snap out of it.
1. I'm enjoying the fact that we dont have to get out of the house by a certain time.
2. The kids and I have been together except for about 40 minutes since 3/13 and I've only felt suffocated like twice.
3. I knew I liked being around DH and I think it's because he's gone 3 nights a week, but we we haven't really spent any extra time together since he's still going to work and will be throughout this.
4. I've been working out 3-4 days a week.
5. I started reading again
6. DS has not been whining nearly as much since the influence to do so is not around. He has also improved at playing by himself. It's still very short lived, but it happens now.
7. DD is funny. She always has been, but she's the source of most of my laughter these days.

[sdlaura]

1. I haven't been able to sleep in (because 2-year-old), but it has been nice to not have to rush out of the house by a certain time in the morning.
2. It's kind of nice to not have to leave my house during the third trimester with my 4th baby, since I feel huge. I would have still been flying until 34.5 weeks/May 1, and I'm sure I'm less swollen than I would have been if that were happening. I think my maternity leave will be less noticeable/disruptive to my coworkers and clients this summer, since I think meetings will continue to be virtual during that time.
3. I knew I liked my husband a lot and we're good on our own, since we've moved to different parts of the country where we knew no one twice since we've been together. But what's surprised me is how well he's handling everything. I've always been an optimist, but he's a pessimist who's prone to depression and anxiety, so I would have expected him to be pretty awful to be around during this time. Especially with his job uncertainty. But he's been pretty great. I think it's a little bit validating for him that he thought this situation would be more serious than most people did, and he prepared for it, and feels secure.
4. Like mellym , we've been able to potty train DS2. That's nice to have done before the new baby.
5. I've been pleasantly surprised by hearing from some people I don't even know that well, who wanted to check in and see how we're doing. And I've reconnected more with certain old friends through text chats and zoom calls.

librarychica reminded me of another one - DD has really been an awesome big sister lately to her two brothers. I'm sure she'll be great with the new one soon, too. I can't move as fast as I normally can, so when DS2 runs off she is always there to chase him down and grab him She also reads to both brothers and helps DS1 with his homework, and it's adorable.

[186momx]

1. DD can really work well independently.
2. I'm busy and have a job and still have my business

[mommyatty]

I thought of a couple more.

1. We aren’t wasting nearly as much. DH freaking loves paper towels. He’s having to adjust to using more hand towels and other reusable materials. We are also more careful about buying food we need and executing our dinner plans. So we are throwing away less food.
2. I love having lunch at home. I eat leftovers almost every day. It’s awesome and I’m eating fewer French fries. I am awful at remembering to pack my lunch for work.

[sandandsea]

1. DS1 is amazing at helping ds2 with his work.
2. The boys are loving all of this time together
3. We finally took time to figure out how to connect ds to his cousins in Minecraft so they can play together
4. The boys love waking up and putting on clean pajamas for the day
5. DS2 loves wearing a superhero cape for our evening walks. It’s adorable.

[librarychica]

Oh! I have another. We are actually eating all of the leftovers. No leftover left behind.

[campermom]

1) Sleeping in. I’ve been getting up at 7 instead of 5.
2) More time with kids to do fun things since we aren’t gone in the evenings anymore
3) I don’t have “the rush” anymore. No hurry up and pack this before bed, there’s not great deal of mental capacity expended on planning meals and packing things.
4) The kids have enjoyed “quarantine sandwiches” for lunch-I make sandwiches with lunch meat and lettuce tomato pickles and toast them in the air fryer.

[phdmomma]

1. I am wearing jeans everyday, and it is amazing
2. Also, no makeup, I just don't care, even though I have video calls

[divanerd]

No need to rush out in the morning
I can cook in evening opposed to mornings
More family at home time
Hubby and i are doing better
Can drink coffee looking out window opposed to commute
Connect more with friends and family
More exercise time

[rere]

1. I get to sleep until 630 instead of 530.
2. I love working from home. I am at the kitchen table with my big french doors and the screen door open and the birds singing.
3. I have been wearing sweats, tshirts or yoga pants daily. Minimum hair and makeup.
4. Dd and I have walked during lunch daily in addition to my regular workout.
5. My house is clean because I take some breaks to straighten during the day.
6. I'm here with the kids and sometimes Dh when hes not working.
7. I have saved a lot of money. School trips, extracurriculars, going out, not really buying anything. We are very lucky to be employed and actually earning more when a lot of people are hurting. I am keeping an eye out where we can give back. However, we are also just putting any extra into savings. I want to see how this plays out when things start to open.

[rere]

I'm also very grateful I have a decent place to quarantine. Its clean, we have plenty of food, we have decent space for everyone. We have a large yard and plenty of room outside. I like it here. I worry about some of my students because I have a general idea of their homelife from some of their discussions.