What Covid-19 Has Taught Me

May I first preface this by stating that before this, I considered myself “prepared.” Not a prepper, mind you, as I learned over the years that “those guys” are way beyond my wildest dreams as far as what they have thought of and prepared for. No, I am nowhere near that level of preparedness. BUT, I figured I was in good shape. However, this pandemic has revealed some things to me, and I figured I’d share them with you, in case they might help.

1. Your young kids have no clue what is going on. If you tell them that it’s even more important to not waste food, etc, they will likely completely ignore you. Kids are definitely a freaking liability in an end of the world scenario. They don’t listen under the best of circumstances. Not much has changed from daily life.
2. You don’t have as much food as you think you do. This is simple. Walk to your pantry and chances are, if you are honest with yourself, there’s not more than a week or two in there. Especially if you are feeding a family of 5 like I am. I have never really concerned myself with what the kids “like” as I very much subscribe to the “you’ll eat what your mother cooks, or go hungry mentality” but their preferred pickings tend to go fast.
3. You realize once your job deems you non-essential and you get to self isolate with your wife and kids, that you have way undervalued her contributions to the household. (Have I mentioned the kids are little jerks, yet?)
4. Self-Isolation is NOT a vacation. Not with kids. Not at all. All those things you think you’ll get to enjoy being at home? Nope, not with the kids.

So, for all of you considering having kids, do so before the end of the world. Trust me. Give yourself a buffer to make sure they are old enough to listen and contribute in some way. Mine are not, and my blood pressure reflects that.

 

Before you send me hate mail, this is obviously (mostly) humor. Chill out. Laugh a little. Most of all, everyone stay safe. We’ll get through this.