Greetings from (checking a calendar) Thursday, March 19, 2020. It’s Day 4 of no school during the Coronavirus pandemic. I am at home with our two school-age daughters—grade 6 (age 12, otherwise known as “you don’t know anything, mom”) and grade 4 (age 10, also called the age of dragons, unicorns, pajamas, and fart humor)—and two dogs. You’re all at home too. Isn’t this a scream?

I’ve been working remotely from a home office since 2015, so I jotted down a few thoughts in case I can help shed some light on how to balance working from home while wrangling kids and critters. Most of the advice centers around kids because the dogs are the best behaved beings in my house—and this includes the 5-month-old puppy who regularly pees on the floor.

This is a picture of how one of my “coworkers” tries to get my attention while I’m working.

Let’s get started.

Set standards but keep them low

Most work days I get dressed, put on deodorant, brush my hair, and apply light makeup. This is me. This is what I do. You don’t have to do this. But it helps me feel human and slightly polished. On the days when I haven’t done this my mood feels a little sour. I keep a cute cardigan and scarf on the back of my office chair and a tube of lipstick near my keyboard in the event of a spontaneous video call—Surprise! You’re on camera!

I shower at least every other day. I’ve talked with other chronic work-from-homers who push the envelope on this (you know who you are) and their spouses can tell when working conditions are a little too ripe.

This applies to our kids, too. We’re keeping our kids’ bathing and bedtime routines the same. Speaking of schedules…

Make a skeleton schedule and stick to it loosely

Routine is critical in our family. Even before COVID-19 (my daughters call it The Rona or The Rona Lisa) I made a daily schedule divided between to-do items and a general order of the day. One of our daughters needs to know what’s happening or she’s untethered, adrift.

Keep it simple

Do not be ambitious. These are unprecedented times. Years ago I decided on a few basic items that are musts. The others are extras. Here are the have-to items for the morning (by 9 a.m.):

• Get dressed
• Make your bed
• Brush your hair
• Eat breakfast
• Take your medication

That’s it. That’s the list. Anything more than that and they feel overwhelmed.

Keep it fun

A couple summers ago we discovered the National Day Calendar. Today happens to be National Chocolate Caramel Day so we’re making caramels from scratch. Who knows how it’ll turn out—even if we just get caramel sauce at least we can drizzle it over our ice cream. (Spoiler—they turned out ok and now we have emergency caramels for sad days). It’s also Let’s Laugh Day so we’ll watch America’s Funniest Home Videos and Mary Poppins for the laughing scene. And, because it’s National Poultry Day, I decided to make homemade chicken pot pie for dinner. No matter what, it’s one way I’ve found of entertaining our family in a somewhat structured way.

Plan ahead and set timers

Every morning I look at my work calendar to see when I have scheduled conference calls. That’s an automatic screen time block for us. Today, they get screen time from 10:30-11, 11:30-1, and 2:30-3. For us, we define screen time as tablets, computers, and phones—those devices tend to be more addictive for our kids. We place TV and movies in a separate category because they don’t have the same hypnotic sway over our kids.

Before I start a meeting, I distribute snacks (they’re happier when they’re not hangry), take the dogs out for a bathroom break, and set a timer. Our house runs on timers. It’s a way for me to set a clear expectation on when I’ll emerge from my office and when they need to plug their devices at the charging station. Does it always work? NOPE. But it’s part of our routine and I estimate this works 75% of the time.

In order to earn additional screen time they need to read or draw for at least 30 minutes. So I add screen-free blocks into the schedule. This helps when they ask for their phone or tablet. It gives me an easy way to say, “Sure. You can have it after you read or draw for 30 minutes.” Or, I can say, “Let’s see what’s on the schedule.” If the day is already written down I can point to it like an impartial arbiter. It removes me as the mean parent and helps them feel a little bit more in control of when they can liquefy their brains on Roblox or Pinterest.

Separate and mute

I’m lucky in that I have a separate office space with a door. Unfortunately, my door is a glass door without a lock. If my door is shut, my “coworkers” have to knock before entering. If I’m on a call and they can see my headset on my noggin, they have to submit any requests in writing by slipping a note under the door. Most of the time the notes read something like “Mom, can I have marshmallows?” To which I scribble back, “No.” And then the child writes back, “Too late.” And grins through the door with a mouth full of marshmallows.

I’m now a pro at using the mute features on Webex/Zoom meetings. When I’m confident that the phone is muted I feel empowered to do more than just give the kid a vicious stare. I’ve learned that it’s OK to step away from a call to mediate disputes. On that note, I have a code word with my manager (COCONUT) that I can quickly type in a chat window. COCONUT means—disaster has struck, I have to deal with it or face lasting consequences, and I’ll return to my keyboard as soon as humanly possible.

Share the responsibility of clean up

We have a few general clean up rules.

• Take your dishes to the sink
• Clean up one activity before you move to the next
• Take dirty clothes to the laundry room

That said, this doesn’t always work. One child popcorns from one activity to the next leaving a wake of discarded, partially finished projects. By the end of the day it’s completely normal to have to wade through a bizarre debris field of cardboard, pipe cleaners, stickers, coloring books, tape, and markers. But, hey, I try.

On fighting and coping ahead

My kids fight. Typically, it’s verbal insults, but left unchecked things can get physical quickly. I’ve learned how to cope ahead. By now I know their triggers and (most of the time) I have a plan for how I’m going to solve disputes. We have set rules for behavior like name calling and hitting that will result in consequences such as losing devices or dessert. (Personally, I’d rather lose my phone than miss out on a bowl of ice cream, but that’s me.)

And, I have a plan for what I’m going to do when I lose my mind. Often it’s just stepping away to a different room. With dogs, I have built in excuses to take a quick walk outside. When I have lost my cool and raised my voice I apologize sincerely and we move on. If this happens in your family too, it’s normal. It’ll all be ok.

 

Reward and recognize

I try to catch the kids when they’re getting along and being as angelic as possible. I keep a stash of m&ms nearby and I hand them out here and there when I hear them compliment a sibling, let an insult slide without returning a torrent of abuse, and other things I want them to do more often.

Play to your strengths

Things I’m good at: cooking, crafting, walking the dogs, reading out loud. These are the types of activities I’m continuing to do. Sticking with what I’m good at helps me be more relaxed, which in turn, hopefully reassures my kids and keeps the house chill.

Be ok with weaknesses

I am not an educator. There is no way I am even close to an adequate replacement for my kids’ teachers. As I write this, our school district has not asked students to do distance learning. I am not doing any kind of formal instruction or enrichment. Any academic aspects of our days this week have been accidental. Following a recipe for caramels and making hand sanitizer have been decent ways to incorporate some math and life skills.

When distance learning starts I plan to give it a solid B effort. I will pick up the materials, I’ll add the lessons to the schedule, and I’ll do my best to support the girls’ as they learn. BUT my priorities are safety and sanity. If a kid melts down, pumps the breaks, and doesn’t want to learn on a particular day I’m absolutely not going to force it.

Get weird and relax some rules

Things are SO not normal. Our family has always been a bit bizarre and we’re totally embracing our quirkiness. Yesterday we spent 15 minutes seeing who could get the dogs to jump the highest by leaping. Today, my youngest decided she needed a cape—she took a fleece blanket, cut holes in the top corners, secured with a pipe cleaner, and swooshed dramatically around the house. Did I want her to cut holes in a blanket? No. Did I bat an eyelash. NOPE.

Maybe I’ll let them have dessert for breakfast on a Friday. Or maybe it would be funny to put gloves on feet and walk around like a chicken. (TIP: Do this, it’s fun.)

Don’t drink during the day

There’s a lot of “Rosé all day” and “It’s wine o’clock somewhere” merch out there. I know it’s fun to joke about drinking, but—in my opinion—booze doesn’t mix well with working from home with kids. The only thing in my tumbler is water or coffee. Apologies for clutching my pearls, but I think this isolation may last several more weeks (or months!!??). I do enjoy a nice cocktail, but I have a firm after work hours policy for when I let myself sip some wine. Real talk—if I have to drive a family member to a clinic, I need to be sober.

I wait until my spouse gets home to hit the sauce. And, I try to abstain from alcohol Monday through Thursday. That said, rules are meant to be broken. So if it’s a bad day at the office and the “coworkers” are EXTRA, I’ll enjoy a glass of wine on a Tuesday evening. But, I try to make it the exception, not the norm. It gives me something to look forward to, and perhaps I set a better example for my kids that alcohol isn’t the only way to relax. Other go-to items in my blissing out toolbox are yoga, tea, emergency chocolate, walks, bubble baths, locking myself in the bathroom, and screaming into a pillow.

Escape plans

At the moment, my spouse’s job is considered essential—he manages a manufacturing team to make soap and hand sanitizer. He’s gone from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m. When he returns, we eat dinner and then I unapologetically scoot upstairs and lock myself in our bedroom to make phone calls, play Words with Friends or write this scattered blog post with excess commas (I will edit this later, I promise). Knowing how I’ll be responsibility-free is my guiding light in the chaos.

Wrapping it up

I don’t have all the answers. This is what’s worked for us as long as we’re healthy. If the Rona Lisa hits our house I do not know what will happen. I’m not sure any of us really do. So from me to you, I wish you all a safe and healthy-as-can-be evening.

P.S. Tomorrow is National Ravioli Day.

[NOTE: Some items I mention may or may not apply to your situation because our daughters have disabilities. Both our daughters are on the autism spectrum. Since their diagnoses in 2016, I have made the decision to avoid sharing  specifics on their conditions because the Internet is forever and it’s their journey, not mine. Because of their disabilities, routines are essential and we go easy on chores and other things that create anxiety. In this new normal while all outside and at-home therapy sessions have been canceled I am trying to amp up the fun and take the pressure off academics.]

 

 

This April marks a year since we received our younger daughter’s autism diagnosis. A few months later, the same team of specialists diagnosed our older daughter with autism. Several friends with children on the spectrum guided me through the first few months after the diagnoses. I was grateful for their help and advice. So as our nation celebrates Autism Awareness Month, I’ll share our family’s journey with autism as a way of paying it forward.

The Autism Society describes Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as a “complex developmental disability, typically appearing during childhood and affecting a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.” This means an individual with autism may have language delays, repetitive behaviors like rocking or hand flapping, or difficulty making eye contact, among many other behaviors associated with the disability. The CDC estimates 1 in 68 children—1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls—are on the autism spectrum.

The good news is, early diagnosis and therapeutic services can improve the quality of life for children on the spectrum. The tough news is, there’s currently no cure for autism so the symptoms my daughters experience may last throughout their lives. During the ups and downs of the last year, here are seven  things I’ve learned about autism.

1. “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” After our daughters’ diagnoses, I read this quote by Dr. Stephen Shore. The autism spectrum is just that—a range of symptoms and behaviors. Our daughters are verbal, make eye contact (generally), and play creatively. When it comes to symptoms, our daughters are fairly different. Our older daughter is sensitive to certain smells and textures, doesn’t like to be touched, often struggles with new social situations and friendships, and is rarely aggressive.  Her younger sister reacts strongly to loud noises and bright lights, can hit or bite when scared, has trouble adapting to changes in routine, and repeats phrases when she’s overwhelmed. Like our daughters, each individual with autism in unique. The CDC has good information on signs and symptoms across the spectrum.
2. It’s considerate and respectful to use people-first language. Focusing on the person first and the diagnosis or disability second places more emphasis on the individual as a valued member of our society. Rather than refer to a child as autistic, many (though not all) in the autism community prefer to instead say child with autism.
3. “I am different, not less.” This quote is from Dr. Temple Grandin, an adult with autism and a leading animal science expert. Nonverbal until she was three, she eventually found a successful career based on her ability to see patterns. Using her strengths, she develops unique designs for livestock equipment. While an autism diagnosis can bring helpful resources to set a child on a supportive path, it can also bring labels that might be limiting or damaging. For our daughters, we do our best to try to talk to them like we did before the diagnosis. We say “you can do anything you work toward.” Their futures may be uncertain, but we hope our daughters will be able to have strong relationships and fulfilling careers.
4. Books can only take you so far. I lost count of the number of books I’ve read on autism. Some were helpful, a few were confusing, and others were downright maddening. At a certain point, I needed to talk to other parents. I joined a support group and discovered an incredibly kind and compassionate network of parents ready to offer advice or a listening ear. I now have close friends in that group. When we meet, it’s a relief to talk to parents who just get it—how much we care for our kids, the exhaustion from daily struggles, and the exhilaration of reaching milestones that seemed so distant.
5. Caregiver fatigue is real. I can’t think of any parent who isn’t legitimately tired. But for caregivers of children on the autism spectrum, the level of exhaustion can be serious and chronic. The daily tension of anticipating or preventing sensory meltdowns, frequent calls to and from school or therapy providers, multiple weekly therapy appointments, extensive paperwork, and regular doctor visits for medication checks are just a few reasons for my fatigue.  Breaks are rare, but necessary. I’m incredibly appreciative of the talented professionals who help our daughters, my patient husband, and our supportive extended family who help us take a vacation to recharge.
6. Autism may be invisible, but the associated behaviors aren’t. There are no physical characteristics that set individuals with autism apart from other people. My daughters look typical, but can act in atypical ways—like loud screeching at a mall, throwing shoes while waiting in line, or rocking back and forth with ears covered in a loud restaurant. In that moment when strangers may be silently or overtly judging my parenting, I struggle to ignore insensitive comments or looks. This is why autism awareness is important. Shining a light on invisible disabilities can help build empathy and understanding. Watch this video from Australia on the importance of accepting difference. Elaine Hall from The Miracle Project explains, “It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a child with autism to raise the consciousness of the village.”

7. Pink looks different than blue on the spectrum. A majority of autism research has centered on boys. That means many of the early signs of autism—not making eye contact, withdrawing from touch, no spoken words—may be more indicative of boys than girls on the spectrum. Diagnostic tools based on boys with the disorder can lead to late or misdiagnoses in girls. Recent research on girls with autism indicate higher levels of social interaction, fewer rigid interests, and less obvious behavior problems. I can personally share that these differences likely contributed to our daughters’ relatively late diagnoses at ages six and eight, rather than the average age of four. When we have more research on girls, we can develop better diagnostic tools. And when both boys and girls are diagnosed earlier, they can receive therapies that may reduce the severity or costs of the disorder over a lifetime.

A year into our family’s journey with autism, I can share that while I know more than I did,  I still have a lot more to learn. Together, we’ve accomplished a lot. We now have several physicians and therapists we know and trust, a small circle of friends in the autism community, and better tools to manage confusing social expectations. I want to emphasize that while autism challenges our family, our lives are far from bleak. We love our daughters unconditionally and they bring us joy in their own quirky ways. Thank you for reading about our family and learning more about autism. It’s certainly a complex disorder with rapidly evolving research findings. If you would like to learn more, consider these resources:

The Autism Society of America

Center for Disease Control evidence based information on autism

The Center for the Study of Autism

Feel free to reach out to me if you would like to know more about our family’s experience with autism. And if you know a family with autism, consider asking the parents if they need a break, help with home repairs, or even a listening ear–a little empathy can have an enormous difference.

 

 

Picture this: you’re at book club, the book discussion is winding down, you and your friends are on a second (or third) glass of wine, and your belly is full of bruschetta and mini key lime tarts. Then someone notices the time. Now you need to wrap up the evening and pick the next book. Depending on your group, this could go down smoothly (like the wine bottles you just drained) or cause trouble. As a veteran book-clubber I can suggest a few ways to pick books without wrecking the vibe.

Pick a pleasing process

Book club isn’t just about the books, ambience, and conversation. A well-run book club is organized with easy to understand rules. One cornerstone is how you pick the books. You have several options:

1. The host or organizer of each meeting chooses the book. Some book clubs like to link the book with the host. On a positive note, this cuts down on debate because what the host decides wins. However, not everyone likes the pressure of suggesting the next book. Often this method involves scheduling the hosts for the next six to 12 months. Each host is responsible for sending their pick to the group in advance.

2. Like a fantasy draft, pick a year’s worth of books all at once. This is my favorite method. Everyone comes to the meeting with two to three book suggestions with summaries. The group gets to weigh in on all the selections and choose the next eight to 12 books. Often, this means everyone gets at least one of their picks in the lineup. Plus, when you select a batch of books in one sitting it’s easier to mix up the genres. Do you really want to read three slavery novels in a row? Could you stomach more than two dystopias a year? You don’t have to be too methodical, but it’s nice to balance the choices. And picking books in advance can be cost effective because you’ll have plenty of time to reserve books through the library. Or you’ll have time to swap books. On the negative side, it’s hard to integrate new members. And, if a great book comes along you’ll have to wait several months to add it to the list. Still, I prefer the all-at-once approach because the book selection discussion is concentrated in one meeting and the rest of the year just flows.

3. Select the next host and book at the end of meeting. If you prefer to go with the flow and be open to new releases, you might like selecting books one or two at a time. When you wrap up the current book you can move right into discussing what you want to read next. You get a lively open discussion and any member can suggest the next book with consensus or a loose vote deciding the next books. This works well if you all have similar tastes or don’t mind a little back-and-forth debate. If you choose this method, the leader may want to interject every now and then to make sure some of the quieter members get heard. And be prepared with a quick summary and rating to back up your suggestions.

Other rules—frequency, spoilers, hosts, and meeting spots

You’ll need to decide how often you meet—usually every four to six weeks works well for most groups. I’ll say that my first group of single ladies enjoyed meeting once a month and rarely had problems finishing books. Once babies entered the picture, we met less often so that we had more time to read the last chapter. So, consider your group dynamics when setting up the meetings.

On a related note, it’s a good idea to set up a ground rule on spoilers. I personally like a general guideline of not requiring everyone to finish the book as long as they don’t mind when the discussion turns to plot spoilers and the ending.

Now, who will host and when? If you don’t link the hosts to the books (see above) then the easiest way is to set the host schedule six months to a year in advance.

Where will you meet? It’s up to your group to decide if you want to meet in homes, at restaurants or bars, coffee shops, or public spaces like libraries or community centers. Hosting at homes is often more convenient as long as roommates, kids, and partners can find safe places to hide from raucous voices and hooting laughs. It’s also a good idea to be clear about the hosting expectations. In my first book club everyone (including the hostess) brought either a beverage or a dish to share. Often, most brought a bottle of wine and an appetizer. Another approach that also works well is for the host to provide the beverages and guests bring an appetizer or dessert.

Bars, restaurants, and coffee shops are decent alternatives to meeting in homes. It’s good to get out of the house, and even better to avoid cleaning your house. But this depends on your group’s budget. Not everyone can afford to go out on a regular basis. If budgets are a concern, consider coffee shops. Check the seating options and noise level. Of the three, I think coffee shops with meeting rooms are the best. Restaurants and bars can get noisy and may not have a good space for discussion—it’s hard to engage everyone in a discussion at a long table.

Not necessarily by the book

Here’s the deal. There are so many ways to run your book club. In the end, you’ll know what works well for the group. If your meetings start to thin out or it feels stale, try mixing up how you pick the books or find a new place to meet. And, consider following authors on social media channels—some are willing to Skype with book clubs.

In the end, it’s all about the books and friendship—and the snacks. We just finished People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks and the Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach. Next on my reading list are Loving Eleanor by Susan Wittig Albert (scheduled for publication February 2016) and Honor Girl by Maggie Thrash.

What’s next on your reading list?

If blog neglect were a crime, I’d be guilty. I confess it’s been almost a year since my last post. In three years I published over 100 posts and today I trashed many of them.

I’m killing my blog—most of it. Here’s why:

1. Posts were all over the place. When I started blogging four years ago, I didn’t know what I was doing and, worse, I didn’t have a goal in mind. An avid cook, a new parent, a bookworm, and a crafter, I blogged about any subject I knew well. Within weeks, I was regularly posting recipes, sharing baby pictures, and writing about crafts and baby products. My blog didn’t have a clear focus. Eventually, I found a niche as a food blogger. Then I’d ruin my flow by inserting a DIY tutu-dress tutorial post between recipes. It was a mish-mash, like the junk drawer in my kitchen.
2. The photography sucked. In the beginning, I didn’t understand the importance of illustrating posts and recipes with images. I learned quickly that adding a photo would boost clicks and comments. Plus, in the early days I discovered the magic of easy Wordless Wednesday photo posts. But not all photographs are created equal and my pictures varied between mediocre to dreadful. A picture doesn’t say 1,000 words if it’s overexposed or blurry. It didn’t take me long to realize that words are my forte, not pictures.
3. Blogging is hard. Keeping a blog updated, focused, and relevant to followers is a major commitment. Hats off to the bloggers who can maintain a steady stream of topics, find time to post, write compelling content, take decent pictures, watermark the pictures, troubleshoot any glitches, and promote the content on social channels. If you add contests, giveaways, and chats on top of that you’re talking serious effort and a significant chunk of time.
4. Food blogging is harder. So take a typical blog and then add in time, talent, and energy to chef up original recipes. I discovered early on that food blogging isn’t merely recipe sharing—it’s critically important to give proper credit to recipes adapted from or inspired by other published authors. Content scraping in general isn’t cool, and that’s true in food blogging too. The Food Blog Alliance summarizes the landmines of recipe attribution well. So, at a basic level, keeping a food blog on the up and up is challenging. Then you have to invent, test, cook, photograph, and write up your creations. Great food bloggers take time to photograph the ingredients, each major step, and the finished dish—extra points for adding flair, like an artfully arranged napkin and a distressed table as a backdrop. Don’t forget to add time for cleanup and photo editing. So many food bloggers make it look easy. I think it’s hard as hell. Be sure to give your favorite food bloggers high praise for repeatedly serving up killer content.
5. My blog clashed with my family. When I blog, there’s literally a very long laundry list of things I’m not getting done. For starters, there’s the dirty laundry. And, the house doesn’t clean itself. But most importantly, my favorite people were getting a raw deal. I felt personal pride in publishing a cool post, but it meant nothing when I realized I was missing moments I could have been cherishing. Occasionally sitting on a couch and blogging while my kids play—fine. Regularly paying more attention to my laptop than my daughters was not acceptable. I calculated that the time it would take me to take my mediocre blog to a much better level would be time I wouldn’t get back with my family.

There you have it—five excellent reasons to kill my blog. Except, I’m not ready to pull the plug. Over the last year, it occurred to me that I could delete the pathetic posts, refocus the content, and keep Amy On The Prairie going. Essentially, I’m giving my blog makeover. For all the reasons why my blog sucked, I can think of four reasons why I need to keep the blog going.

1. It’s mine. Blogging is my time to myself. Of all the demands on my time as a wife, mother, copywriter, daughter, friend, and even Sunday school teacher, blogging is just for me.
2. I owe my blog a lot. Blogging helped me build a writing portfolio that ultimately helped me prove my ability to write for a living as a copywriter. And, my fledgling blog taught me how to find my voice and the importance of building a blogging network. The bloggers I met on Twitter and in real life at blogger events turned into friends and a richer professional network.
3. There’s still more to learn. From headline writing, to social media promotion and engagement, to learning WordPress and SEO, blogging was an excellent practical teacher. I write benefit-driven copy every day for work, but unfettered writing is a rich source of creativity and sometimes loosens up any writer’s block when the muse forgets to visit my keyboard.
4. I finally have a clear focus. Over the past year of not blogging at all, I had time to think about my strengths and a good reason to keep the blog alive. It occurred to me that my passions of reading books and cookbooks (yes, I read cookbooks and sometimes I cook from them) will be a tidy, purposeful niche for my blog. Soon, you should see posts from me on how to pick books for your book club, must-have cookbooks, and so on.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you’ll be hearing more from me—of cooks and books—very soon.