I have a pre-existing health condition that effects my lungs, so I had to move back to my hometown to adjust my ability to control my exposure. In doing so, I had to continue paying for an apartment I could not use, and I had to leave my job because it was no longer safe for me to work and I was not given a remote work option. I also had to repurchase items such as clothing and textbooks because I did not think that I would be away from my apartment for months when I originally left.
Community: Jupiter
Creativity Rules
My coronavirus story began in early March. At that time, one of our families who has a child that comes to our shop for training had a member that was visiting Italy. When they returned, I asked the family to take a two-week break from bringing their child into the shop. From then on I started making all kinds of rules about keeping everyone safe. By March 14 or so, I decided to close the shop and bunker up at home. Also, around the same time I started to have a big problem with my knee and was in a great deal of pain so I couldnt really move around anyway. We all stayed home for a month. My son, who has severe autism, stayed in bed all day and I decided he was probably in a depression. So as I was starting to feel better, I realized I had to get him out and we went back to the shop to start working and making Chocolate. Eventually we decided we had to figure out a way to keep our revenues up and I invited some of our employees to also come back into the shop but stagger their schedule so nobody was there at the same time. We eventually put the word out to the community and we had a very successful Mothers Day truffle event. This is let us to develop new ways of marketing including curbside pick up and eventually were going to be doing delivery. And we have really boosted up our mail order business. My family is ultra safe. We do not go to any stores or any restaurants of any type. We eat at home every day and we wear masks when we go out but honestly other than our house and my shop, we dont go anywhere. Everything we need we get delivered. And my husband washes it off before comes in the house. We are both in our 60s and dont want to take any chances. Additionally, my son with the autism is very behavior really difficult and this change in routine has caused him a lot of problems. Hes been changing up his medications with the psychiatrist but the whole situation has just exacerbated the problems. Basically our whole family revolves around his needs and we have to be very careful that we are able to meet them no matter what. For instance, he only eat certain foods and snacks and I have to make sure I have them on hand. Additionally, no matter what, we have to stick with his routine. But I will say having him going back to work at our shop has made a big difference. I think this time is about creativity, consideration, and understanding of others needs as well. I hope everyone can come together and work on creating a safer and healthier world.
My story (Story #560)
The coronavirus has clearly affected everyone in so many way. In my case, I have had a lot of time to truly think about myself. Before this pandemic started, I was not in the best mental state. I had a lot of family problems and really needed a break from all of it. While the quarantine is making me stay home with my family, I have a lot of time to decompress and focus on me and what really matters. Family problems still happen but I feel I am able to cope with it all a little better due to the time I have to really think.
New COVID life
My life hasn’t drastically changed; However, my family’s has. My mom works 2 days a week, which has no real effect, she worked for amusement. Yet, my dad who I normally only see on weekends, he works 9-midnight 5 days a week, has been home either all morning or all night. Its also strange to see my brother home this is the longest he’s been home in years. My mom is very thankful for that. As a senior I’ve been very disappointed with how this year has turned out, no graduation or prom, but at least its over. Thankfully my family has all remained healthy and financially wise through this pandemic.
#rip2020seniors
COVID-19 has impacted my life by changing the entire nature of my senior year. The last semester of your senior year is meant to be the most rewarding and memorable part of high school. Having my graduation, prom, senior nights, and grad parties taken from me has been extremely difficult to deal with. I have found myself struggling more and more with what I like to call corona depression, everyday is a challenge but I’m glad to be taking said challenge. Luckily I have been able to go back to work and I feel as though I can finally see the light at the end of what seems like the longest tunnel I have been in.
Bummer
I had plans to move to Michigan to live with my boyfriend but he had to move home and now we are living with family. Its not fun.
Working from Home
I am a first year Elementary Education major at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and when the Coronavirus was first talked about we (the students) thought nothing of it. Then the week before spring break, the universitys president announced that students were supposed to stay home until April 5th to ensure no one would bring the Coronavirus to the Campus. Within the second week of staying home he announced that students could no longer come back in Campus unless it was to move out of their dorms. So, now it has been almost two months since I have been self distancing and it has been the most boring thing I have ever gone through. Living in Florida means that I have been through Hurricanes, but the Epidemic is like a hurricane that does not show rather it is done or not. Taking college classes is already a hassle, and adding online lecturing and tons of homework does not make it any better. You have to worry about your life and also worry about your assignment that is due at 5:30. I have never been more grateful for the library until now. I cannot focus working in the luxury of my home, my ideas become jammed and procrastination always sounds like a better option. God has blessed my mother with pay from home, so that has decreased my worrying. I regret taking my freshman college experience for granted, and I wish I could rewind time to go back.
Chaneling my mother
The corona virus has impacted my life by limiting what activities I can do outside my house. I have not been able to travel to visit family in other states, requiring utilization of technology such as zoom and facetime to connect to distant family. I am usually active at least three times a week with volunteer activities and since these are community based I have had to limit these to just a few that I can do from home. This virus has caused me to work on, not yet complete, in home projects, which I report to my family as means to channel my mother. A women, who lived to 103 years old, who was always busy and was not afraid to take apart an appliance or sewing machine that was not working. I have broken apart two sewing machines with broken gears, and realize that my mask sewing project may never get started. So… moved on to removing paint from chairs and tables.
Sisters + Cars
My sister lives in West Palm Beach and I live in Jupiter. She doesn’t drive and last week she had symptoms similar to the ones for coronavirus. I reached out and told her if she wants to go get tested to let me know and I can drive her but we have to make an appointment, find a mask and some gloves for us to not spread it between each other. I am glad that I am here for her and I have a car. But it had me thinking, how else are people that do not have transportation and are not feeling well getting tested? All the testing sites are drive thru. If people go to the hospital aren’t they just turned away? None of the healthcare providers are talking about what to do if you don’t have a car.
Kid-anecdotes
I have been working from home due to the work schedule change with the pandemic. I have a friend who is a single mom, with 3 small children. Mom has not been able to get her wifi service connected and her 3 elementary school children were unable to participate in the virtual classroom setting or get their school work done on time. Mom also had the opportunity to work during those 2 days. I offered to help her for 2 days while she fixed her issue with comcast. In those 2 days I learned so much from them. I learned about the struggles young families have in getting the children on the District website, looking for the assignments that need to be worked on, and the old keeping them on task regiment. I had to put all 3 in separate rooms with makes shift desks. The three year old had some fine motor skills to work on, he did great!I am divorced and my son is 24. I forgot what is was like to have kids in the house. I only had one child so three was quite a challenge. I am proud to say I still managed to get my work done daily. Hats off to all moms and dad struggling to be a teacher. I had some funny moments with them and realized how resilient these children are. I was on a conference call at one point, and I sensed someone slithering on the floor (I had told them I would be on a conference call and could not be disturbed). The 3 year old was trying not to disturb me so he slithered all the way from the doorway to my desk to ask if he was allowed to have a cookie, seems like an appropriate time to get a YES response. One they all finished their schoolwork we went outside to do an Art project. On the second day I was asked when the fine arts class was going to take place. Yes, I did read a book to them about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera and we did work on a Jackson Pollack action painting project, the first day. On the second day of our fine arts class we made fabric masks from a t’shirt. The children painted a design on the fabric and then we cut them to size. The 3 year put his mask on and instead of seeing himself as a fictional hero character, he said he was a Doctor. The real heroes of there time. The entire healthcare community who are working hard during this crisis.