#StayHome #StaySafe #SaveLives – Part 3

Like many small business owners, I’ve watched most of my work dry up. It’s different from 2008 when projects gradually slowed to a trickle before quickly picking up again. This time – over the course of four days in late March - almost every client I’ve been working with emailed to say that unfortunately things were on indefinite hold.  

I knew those emails were coming, but they still hurt. Each one represents someone I have built a good working relationship with. And each was written by a fellow business owner or employee who must also be wondering what life will look like once the dust finally settles. 

Everyone is struggling to juggle social isolation and the absolute uncertainty about what the future holds. And it seems like every parent I know is dealing with the additional challenge of keeping our kids on track with school.  

But the sun continues to rise, the birds continue to sing, and we all have to find a way to make the best out of the current situation. Here’s what’s been more-or-less working for me as a business owner and a mother: 

Like many people, my sleep patterns have been disrupted by the stress of our new reality. But I found sleeping in meant my days passed in an unproductive blur. Also, once my son emerges from his room (around noon), my workday is pretty much shot. So, I started setting my alarm clock. 

I don’t necessarily jump out of bed at 6 am, but I’m usually moving by 7. That gives me plenty of time to enjoy a good cup of coffee, take the dog for a walk, and hit my office for a few uninterrupted hours of productive work. 

I’ve always worked from a home office, but I prefer in-person interviews and never write in my pajamas. 

These days, all communication is done by phone or email and my outings consist of dog walks and the occasional supermarket run. I may have embraced an office-casual uniform of yoga pants and sweatshirts, but I make sure I feel ready to face my day by doing my hair and applying minimal makeup before I hit the keyboard. 

It’s an unfortunate reality that many of my regular clients have no work to send my way. But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about them. I’ve made an effort to reach out with a quick email to see how they are doing, and to wish them well. And I’ve gotten a reply. Every. Single. Time. 

The reality is, jobs always come and go. It’s the relationships with people that really count. Especially in difficult times. 

I’m reading lots of articles about the frustration and futility of online learning for kids. My son is in Grade 9, and I can totally relate. 

After a few weeks of arguing over schoolwork, I realised that what my son really wanted was some in-person support. It’s not that he lacks self-discipline, but without the threat of graded assignments and final exams the motivation to sit and do the work just wasn’t there. (Final exams have been cancelled and grades can’t drop below where they were in mid-March.) 

Once I decided to become my son’s ‘teacher’ by reading through the course materials with him and trying to help him work through difficult questions, everything calmed down. I let him decide what he is going to complete each day and give him my undivided attention for the hour or so it takes. Who knew I would be learning the Periodic Table at almost 50?!

I’ve also read lots of articles about parents who are using this time to teach their kids how to do dishes, fold laundry, and cook. They are coming up with schedules and everyone in the family has a to-do list a mile long. 

This is not my approach. 

We’ve had conversations about the fact that we may be self-isolating together for several more months, and that we have to work together to keep the house running smoothly. But I also told my son that his job is to stay on top of his school work and his at-home off-ice training program. (He’s a goalie).

Once those must-dos are complete, I don’t really care how many hours he spends playing video games with his friends. It makes me happy to hear him hollering in the basement. He already knows how to cook pasta and grilled cheese, he’s maintaining friendships, and laundry can wait.