I’ve learned lately that the saying that every cloud has a silver lining is more true than I would have ever imagined.
I spoke in an earlier post about how this “safer at home” time has affected me and my family.
https://learningisawayoflife.com/unschoolers-quarantined/
Given all of this free time, at home, with little to no distractions, I’ve been amazed at what my family, as individuals, have chosen to focus on.
A lot of the skills and choices have pleasantly surprised me and these have been the silver linings in the clouds for me.
Here is how we’ve spent this month of “safer at home” time.
*My 17 yr old son bought a sewing machine. He has taught himself how to sew. He has tailored about 9 pairs of pants for himself and 10 button-up shirts. He has also played around with the sewing machine, made some masks, and mended all items of clothing that any of us had that needed mending.
This shocks me for many reasons.
1) I’ve never in my life sewed, nor has any family member.
2) This came completely out of the blue from a seed planted at a 4H project about 3 years ago.
3) I had no idea sewing is anything that he’d be interested in.
*My 12 year old decided he wanted to really strengthen his multiplication and division skills. He worked through multiple random workbooks that I had lying around; He made himself flashcards; played every game he could find on the computer; woke up every morning and made himself worksheets and then used a calculator to check his work. He has now mastered multiple digit multiplication and long division.
I was amazed at how badly he wanted to master these skills. I was also amazed at how hard he worked on them daily, with no prompting from me.
The pride on his face as he realized that he’d finally mastered a skill that he’d given up hope of understanding melted my heart.
*My oldest has spent days upon days working on finishing up a novel that she’s been working on for over a decade.
This has been a goal of hers for as long as I can remember. I never mentioned it, just saw her working on it every day. I’m so impressed with her seeing this break from working as an opportunity to pursue something she’s always been passionate about. It may just be a turning point in her life.
By the time this “safer at home” period ends, she’s hoping to have at least one book finished and ready to submit to an editor.
I’ve wanted this for her for as long as I can remember just because she’s always enjoyed it so much.
It makes my heart super happy to see her working so hard towards a worthwhile goal.
Plus, I cannot wait to finally read this book she’s been talking about for years.
*My husband and my youngest child have been working together to re-purpose a dresser we’ve had lying around that really needed new life. They’ve repaired drawers, stripped, sanded, and painted it. Next, my son is planning to chalk a creation on it that is very meaningful to him.
They were just scouting through our belongings and found this old treasure.
I love seeing them work together. With our schedule, this type of bonding activity for the two of them doesn’t happen very often(if ever).
*We’ve known that we’ve wanted to have a chicken coop for years so that one day soon we can have chickens.
Well, we were able to draw out a design, make a supply list, and are ready to head to the store as soon it feels safe. This will be another project that we work on together as a family and one that will always remind of us this time stuck together #quarantine2020
*Sadly, our reality is that we go out to eat A LOT. Way more than I’d like to admit.
Well, we haven’t been able to.
We have spent so many hours together in the kitchen. We have tried more new recipes together this month than we ever would’ve tried.
We’ve come to enjoy cooking and baking together even more than I would’ve thought possible.
Has everything turned out?
Of course not! But that’s half the fun(and the reason I stocked the freezer with frozen pizzas and burritos).
I know we’ve all learned new skills that will serve us all in the future.
*My youngest found an old astronomy book as we were cleaning out our bookshelves.
He has read it cover to cover.
He drew and labeled different constellations.
We have his handmade posters all over our walls.
We dusted off and have put to good use a telescope that’s been sitting in its box for 10 years.
We’ve studied the skies almost nightly, as we sit together around a bonfire and talk.
Oh, the conversations we’ve had.
The creative stories that we’ve made up together, sitting out under the stars will be forever etched in my memory.
*Two of my children have written complete business plans for businesses that they would like to start once life resumes to normalcy.
They have researched and dug and spent hours pouring over spreadsheets and logistics.
I cannot wait to be a part of their journeys if they choose to proceed with their ideas.
*One of my children has decided that they are going to pursue interior design as a career. Every time he is quiet, I look for him and find him with graph paper or on the computer working on room designs.
This shocks me because it just sprouted out of nothing.
We’ve always enjoyed watching home rehab shows together and I had no idea this would become a passion of his.
*My 2nd son has decided that he wants to pursue a career in real estate.
He had attended a seminar about a year ago that inspired him.
He worked this last summer for a local landlord learning the ins and outs of flipping houses.
He has attended multiple conferences and meetings with investors learning as much as he could.
He has spent this last month taking the real estate classes and is now ready to sit for the exam as soon as everything re-opens.
I am so proud of him and the progress and dedication he has shown in his field of passion.
So, although I cannot wait to no longer be quarantined in my home, I can’t say that this time has been a waste because every cloud has a silver lining.
I dare say that it has caused us all to slow down and learn more about who we really are and who we want to be; as individuals and collectively as a family.
I cannot wait to be able to go on day trips again, and out to eat, and window shopping and just out about without restrictions or feeling guilty.
However, I will forever cherish these memories we’ve made at home and cannot wait to see how these new skills and outlooks on life are put into practice.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Have you been able to find any silver linings in your clouds, for yourself or your family, during this stressful time?
