“Lessons from Lockdown” is an op-ed series where contributors write about their personal experiences with self-isolation for COVID-19. We’re committed to publishing a variety of voices and perspectives in this series, and we generally leave contributors’ thoughts and ideas as-is even in places where we as a site might have a different take. For The Prepared’s official site tips and recommendations on all things prepping, informed by contributions from relevant subject matter experts, see our guides and gear reviews.
In early January, 2020, I sat with my feet in our municipal pool here in Anchorage, Alaska, thinking about how this was going to be a really great year. I had finally gotten up at 5am to begin what I hoped would be a disciplined new fitness routine, and my soon-to-be 13 year old son had even joined me. The water was glistening, and we had a great time.
My son’s biggest activity was our local Youth Court, which has an incredible program where young people get to act as clerks, lawyers, and judges in a system that handles mostly misdemeanors committed by youth offenders. Conversations with my 11 year old daughter mostly revolved around the excitement of moving to a new school next year, where there is an option to take a trip abroad at the end of each semester for 2 weeks. We marveled at the previous locations: Tokyo, the Galapagos, Paris, Scotland, and more. Having the opportunity to see the world with your classmates and teachers sounded exciting to both of us.
My youngest, who is 7 and has an auditory processing disorder, apraxia, and mild autism, was also hitting a good stride with a new therapy routine. An ABA licensed therapist was coming into our home 4 days a week to do fun activities with her. The woman has been with us over 3 years, and is also my daughter’s dearest friend. We also went to speech therapy twice a week, and water therapy and lessons 2 to 4 times a week.
Our life was pretty full, and everybody had something going on outside of the house, including 2 kids in school full time. My husband is a “work at home” lawyer, and I am somewhat of a “work at home” programmer, plugging away on my own project that was getting closer to finished back in January.
Closing the doors
I began following the story coming out of Wuhan quite early on, and it didn’t take long for us to realize it was likely to impact our lives sooner rather than later. Still, life went on. Our early prepping consisted mostly of buying a little more each time we went to Costco, and buying more staples that would last longer like dried milk. My husband also bought some extra gas to store, and 1 small box of n95 masks from Lowes.
As the weeks went on we became increasingly sure that not only was this virus headed for the United States, but that it was probably already here. I was still contemplating when we might “close the doors on the ark” when Seattle reported the first deaths, along with a variety of new cases. At least 1/2 of the people flying to Alaska come through Seattle, as do many Alaskans going to the lower 48. It’s like a sister city, where our people go for big shopping trips, football games, and specialty medical care that you can’t get here.
My decision was made for me, and the kids and I began self isolating. My husband still goes out occasionally, which is getting less and less. He sometimes has to meet clients, but now that things are moving toward lockdown around the country, he might be able to move these meetings to Skype.
So for 2 weeks the 3 kids and I have been doing “life on lockdown.” We have not left the house, other than when I drove to Walmart to do a grocery pickup. I realize for many this sounds horrible — how could you not leave your house! But maybe since we began reducing our activities in February (like eliminating church, potlucks, etc.) it hasn’t been that big of a jolt to the system for anybody.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy. We worry plenty, about the uncertain outlook for the economy, and that lack of testing has masked a growing sea of hidden COVID-19 infections.
Settling into a routine
I wish I could say that I have an uber organized routine of homeschooling, therapy, cooking, chores, and exercise! I don’t. Not even close. In fact, the 2 older kids have mostly played Roblox and read books on their Kindles when we are not eating together or watching family movies.
And my idea that we would be taking a daily walk to get sunshine on our faces hasn’t attracted any takers yet either, as the temperature plummeted to -5 last week, and their snow gear is still left at school.
We took the kids out of school not knowing if the school would remain open all year or not. A couple of days ago, our governor ordered all Alaskan schools closed for a minimum of 2 weeks. Luckily, our own small private school followed suit, and put together a Google Classroom for distance learning.
For my son, this will be perfect, as he really misses the peer interaction. Since my daughter is leaving anyway, she wants to begin Study.com. They have an amazing array of courses for 6th grade and above, with videos and online activities. I’ve asked her to do 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. That is going to take discipline on my part!
Challenges: discipline, exercise, sleep
That has been the hardest part. How do you have personal discipline when you are glued to all forms of media, trying to get the latest news about the global pandemic? It’s hard enough to get everybody fed and watered and a few vitamins down the hatch. Daily walks, online church service on Sunday, family yoga — these have all just been pipe dreams, so far.
But we have started using our 48 inch fitness trampoline that my youngest mainly uses as a place to play with her Barbies. Both my husband and I are making an effort to get on there and do whatever we can: run in place, shake a leg, just get moving. Even a couple of minutes at a time really adds up if you keep doing it. We paid around $100 for it on Amazon.
The worst development from the chaos of recent weeks has been upside-down sleeping schedules. It seems each family member has developed their own, and none seem to even match up.
Kids are up early, then sleeping at midday, whereas I tend to be up late at night reading, and get up either when my phone gets a text message, or a kid shakes me awake. There are days I’ve slept 3 hours, and others I’ve slept 10. Only the little one seems to have a consistent schedule where she gets 10 solid hours of sleep a day.
Moving forward, I know that only a bit more personal discipline on my part can bring all of this together.
Dad is busy making a living, and has been an absolute warrior through all of this. We share a common passion for books and movies about polar exploration, and I’ve joked with him using a quote from the Shackleton movie with Kenneth Branagh, that guys do polar exploration because they’re “no damn use anywhere else.” My prepper husband would certainly rather be out exploring and living off the land than writing business contracts and wills.
But as it turns out, stock has really gone up for guys that are “no damn use anywhere else.”
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