So depending on where you get your news and how much time you spend gathering information, you may have realized that the fear is starting to settle in from the CoVid-19 virus, commonly know as coronavirus. So what do you do about it?
Well for our family, I’ve been planning a new twist on the staycation, namely a quarantine-themed spring break (I’ll have to come up with a trendy term for it). And how does one go about planning such a fun-filled week with 3 rambunctious kids, you ask?
Here it is, my plan-in-the-making for our quaran-break (hmmm, maybe):
- Plan to not leave the house.
- This was implied in the word quarantine, but humans have the odd need to re-state the obvious, so there you have it.
- Stock up on essentials.
- This is where your prepper skills will win the day. But since not everyone knows where to start, I’ll list my top priorities.
- First I should preface my list with a disclaimer, I believe whole-heartedly that our family WILL get the virus. Now that we no longer homeschool, the kids go to school in a HUGE petrie dish. I’ve just accepted that we’ll get it, and I’m moving forward from there. So here’s my list:
- Toilet paper – umm, yeah, I would HATE to run out
- Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen for children and adults – fever is the number 1 symptom with this virus
- Other medical supplies:
- Nasal sprays, aspirators
- Humidifiers, misters
- Vitamin C supplements – Airborne, etc.
- Homeopathics, oils, colloidal silver – whatever floats your boat (and this may be the time to try something new)
- Anything else you can think of to keep you breathing comfortably
- 90 day supply of any prescriptions
- Food and water for 2 – 4 weeks (I could write a whole other blog on this, but so many have – use Google or Pinterest if you need ideas for this)
- Hand soap – we use the regular stuff, I’m not sure how well the antibacterial soap would do in this situation, but it never hurts to have an extra store of both kinds
- Disinfectants – sprays, wipes, hand sanitizers, etc.
- Dish soap, dishwasher detergent, laundry soap, etc. – stuff to get clean
- Those are my biggest priorities, please feel free to add your priorities to the comments.
- This is where your prepper skills will win the day. But since not everyone knows where to start, I’ll list my top priorities.
- Make it less miserable.
- This is where the real planning comes in, no one wants Spring Break to be boring and stuck at home. My husband and I haven’t finished deciding our plan yet, but here are some ideas:
- Make it truly Survival Themed – with camping in the living room, low tech games and activities, and survival skill lessons. Just, you know, don’t burn the house down…
- Plan a Spring Cleaning Frenzy – get the kids involved in clearing out their rooms, play areas, etc.
- Focus on the Family – dig into family history, make family trees, teach the kids about the way their ancestors lived, tell family stories, make your own family story/memory book, have videocalls with your relatives (technology is a wonderful thing).
- Ask the Kids – we’ve asked our kids for ideas and here’s what they said: build a fort, board games, crafts, origami, teach us to cook, etc. Basically they are hoping for time to spend with us without distractions.
- There are tons more ideas on the web for what to do over the summer with the kids at home, including my earlier post. Do some digging and find something that will work for your family.
How ever you face this plague, keep in mind that a good plan and a healthy dose of faith can turn a week (or more) of misery into a meaningful family-strengthening memory. Don’t let the fear bring you down.
Blessings, Sarah
Update 8 March 2020: I am in no way endorsing hoarding, this is not the time to get a year’s supply of anything. But careful and measured preparation will lighten the load on the healthcare systems and local governments. So my updated recommendations include trying to get 90 day refills on your prescriptions and self-isolating if you are in a higher risk group.
May God Bless Each of You!
Photos by: Alexander Dummer on Unsplash Allen Taylor on Unsplash Josh Applegate on Unsplash
Sarah Tailor 