Do Your Part

This one is not exactly kid related, though some of my activities to do below are. We’ll get back on track soon enough with more “mom” topics.

I had this mostly written last week, but wasn’t sure I had all the “right” words to share with you. My mind, as well as all of yours, is probably all over the place during this. So let me try again this week and see if I can tackle what I wanted to share.

During all of this and our time at home being extended, I am sure most of you have felt very uncertain and scared. I have. I keep trying to find things to do to occupy myself and my mind through it all though. More importantly finding things to do with our young son.

Keeping our own minds safe and healthy is important. Reaching out to others through this is as well.

The one thing that I wish I could do more of is be the good for others. Since I do not have unlimited funds and we are to be inside and away from others, I had to get creative. I am doing my part with small gestures because gifts have always been my love language to show those I love that I care about them.

I would like to know what you are doing and maybe seeing others do throughout this other than watching the Tiger King on Netflix…

A few of the things I have done during this to help bring a little bit of sunshine to other’s days are below:

I have sent Thank You cards to two of my very best friends who are nurses in the front line of this virus along with a chap stick holder. The chap stick holders were something I saw my delivery nurses using and thought they were such a great idea I had to get some for them. They both loved them and one mentioned that they are helpful because with their masks on even more than usual their lips are drying out.
Two of my other great friends that are nurses, I had sent Starbucks giftcards to. They even have cute themed ones on the app for Nurses specifically and you can add a special note. All you need is their email address to send it!
I made cookies for my neighbors to drop off because they both celebrated their birthdays within a week of one another and have 3 kids to keep busy during all of this. I am sure they needed a quick treat to know their birthdays are important too!
We painted a printed Easter Egg to hang in our window. This was the project I told you about last week I had tried with my 10 month old son, who was NOT impressed with it. I believe this is spreading among the nation but kids are going on Easter Egg Hunts while on walks and spotting the eggs in the windows of their neighbors.
We placed a Teddy Bear in our window. The same concept as above, but a Teddy Bear hunt. It keeps the kids active and always looking while on their walks!
We had a little bonfire in our driveway a couple of weeks ago to get outside and enjoy a beer but also so we can say “hello” to our passing neighbors now that more people are walking to be outside. Yes, we are at a safe distance, I promise!
My husband saw an older woman post in our local Facebook page about her fear of going to the grocery store. Since he had been planning to go, he reached out to let her know if she provided the list he would get her items and drop them off. She chose another route, but offer help if you can.
Those cookies I mentioned I baked above for my neighbors; I saved a couple so I could gift them to my UPS driver. He is regularly at our home because I have an Amazon Prime problem, but that is not the point here. He is one of those considered essential now and doing his part to make sure we all receive those important packages. He deserved a pick me up for his hard work! I heard of many people doing simple gestures for their delivery teams.
We seem to have different UPS and delivery drivers lately as I’m sure they’re bombarded. I had given one a Thank You card along with muffins I made too. They’re doing A LOT for all of us and they deserve to know how appreciated they are.
My family that lives close to us, we had dropped off a doorstep surprise for them. It was some lunch and muffins with a card.
My mom was talking to her long time friend, who is my godmother, and felt the worry she had for her two girls that live in NYC. Things are a bit different there for them than here in Pennsylvania. My mom and I found a way to get groceries shipped to them. It’s a bit delayed due to the larger population there, but my mom is from a family that is large, not by blood but friendship and when they feel the worry they do their part and this is how she could help.
I plan to send more cards to those around us. If anyone does know me, cards are my thing and always have been so I have a plethora of them already stocked up and ready to go! 😊 Maybe have your children make cards for family members they have not been able to see and send them to them! It can brighten their day.

Please share what you have done to “do your part” during our times at home or even maybe your kids have done. Here are a few things we have seen through our neighborhoods that others have done!

We saw a neighborhood parade of cars one evening when we were going biking who were doing a drive by for a little girl’s birthday. They had all decorated their cars and the kids looked so excited to cheer and yell for their friend’s birthday.

Another thing someone we know is doing, our neighbor’s dad is using his 3D printer to make PPE mask extenders. They go behind the head and eliminate the bands from rubbing on their ears. It’s a small gesture but a big act for those who wear them every day!
(I tried to embed his post here, but had trouble. If you’re interested, I can direct you to his posts! Let me know!)

We saw on several doors that children and families made heart cutouts and wrote an inspiring message on them. “We love you!”, “Thank you to the Heros,” “We will get through this!”
Chalk art on driveways, as well as the cute mosaic coloring families are doing to keep their kids busy. It’s nice to see that when driving or walking through the neighborhood.

It is important that we as communities all around help one another but especially your friends and family that you may not get to see. Send the text message to them or give them a call. There are all kinds of video chat apps out there to use and keep in touch!

One of my favorite artists of all time, Eric Church, was a part of the ACM Presents: Our County this past Sunday. He has a wonderful message and an even better new song he sang for everyone. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! It’s a good song to relate to this event we’re going through.

“Don’t let fear steal your brave heart,
Don’t let doubt take your faith heart,
It’s okay to cry, but don’t ever break heart.”