I considered changing the title of this the moment I wrote it. But no… its accurate, that is what I try and do everyday … I try and find the ‘road less traveled’.

It’s hard, hard watching with jealousy and dismay honestly.. as my family and friends reunite. I feel like the odd man out, still in lock down, still in quarantine with my family with little to no outside social interaction.

I see cars filling up the local restaurants, and see pictures on Facebook of people having ‘get togethers’, of children back with grandparents, and back at daycare’s and childrens sporting events. All lining up to be the first ‘test subjects’ in this world science experiment we are in.

Some because they “have no choice” and some because they are to weary of staying apart for it to make sense anymore. And I watch…with jealousy and wonder, waiting for someone to call and say they “have it”.

With no vaccine or proven treatment, and the number of cases now in the 2nd wave way worse than the 1st wave, I have decided that my family won’t be the first ones to test our luck. Because that is actually what it is right now if you are back interacting and allowing your kids to play with friends, etc., …a test of “luck” that you won’t get it – and luck that it won’t react in such a way to actually kill you or your family member.

I guess I’m jealous, because unlike them, I have chosen the ‘road less traveled’ for my family. My husband works in the ICU, and although he insists I have a better chance of getting COVID from Costco or Safeway, I’m scared that we may be A Symptomatic and may inadvertently spread this. No nurses have contracted COVID where he works and the team got an award for being able to battle the pandemic so successfully.

Our community numbers are low, but state numbers increasing and the USA numbers through the roof because of people re-uniting and protesting.

I have recently declined bday party invites, and ‘play dates’ for my children. We haven’t seen grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins going on 4 months. And its starting to actually HURT, it’s starting to actually make me feel depressed – I’m not gonna lie. Not even ‘drive by’s’ with masks on have taken place with my immediate family.

But for now… until we are closer to vaccine and proven treatment … we will choose the road less traveled.

And I’m trying to not make it so damn sad for myself and for my children who look to me for that positive energy and re-inforcement.

Robert Frost wrote the now infamous poem… The Road Not Taken. It has hit home with me during the pandemic. I feel like there are 2 roads ahead that we must choose right now before there is a vaccine or proven treatment.

1. The road of re-uniting and starting Phase 2 even though there is no effective vaccine or treatment. We send our kids to summer care, take a chance on sitting at restaurant, going to a BBQ, we travel to see family for the 4th of July etc.,

1. OR….Taking the road less traveled and not jumping in until there is a proven vaccine or treatment

I want my family to live, GOD I do. But I also want their mental health to be strong, so I am finding out how to have the best of both worlds. Keep everyone in quarantine, while keeping social interaction with people that are close to them high.

Here are some tips to help you choose the ‘Road Less Traveled’ but still keep the energy up, and everyone’s mental health in check.

1. See family and friends from a distance! We are such social creatures right? And its good for our health to see and speak to each other in person. I get it. So rather than host a BBQ, or a pool party or static picnic at a park, or meet up at resturants. Take a walk together – at more than 6 feet apart with masks on. My close friend and I have done this twice since being in quarantine. We are moving and keep 6 feet or more apart. There is something about just being together that is comforting and needed. But we aren’t inside, we aren’t sharing food, we aren’t in a static position where air is hanging out between us.

My dad and I just talked about doing the same this weekend if the weather holds out and we can walk. We haven’t seen each other in 4 months – but we want to make sure we are keeping each other alive. I know that sounds dramatic but this is pretty dramatic and those that aren’t taking it seriously are suffering the consequences we are seeing. We haven’t even attempted to see each other but we talk almost everyday and FaceTime often.

2. Have group family Zoom calls almost every weekend! Make is routine to see your family virtually. Shout out to my Ooma my step mom for coordinating a zoom call almost every weekend. We all get together to celebrate birthday’s, holidays’ and just see eachother. Why didn’t we do this BEFORE? I want to get a giant screen like in Back to the Future to make virtual calls a thing and bring them into my living room almost every weekend. It’s amazing to see my sisters and my dad and Ooma’s family this way. I have gotten to know Ooma’s sister, and brother this way and it has been amazing honestly.

3. Ask grandparents, aunts and uncles to send video reading to the children. My dad read some amazing stories to the grand babies and we are begging him for more!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsP9MkdQqQI&t=3s

4. Find a VBRO or AirBNB that is secluded and even with no WiFi. We all need to disconnect right now from the headlines. BUT (bring all your own dishes and towels and bedding if you can to reduce risk of using other people’s things during a pandemic) wipe down all surfaces and door handles when you arrive

We went to Lake Cavanah and it was actually one of the best vacations we have ever had as a family. Why? The kids weren’t totally distracted by their phones. They didn’t work! The first day was a little battle, but then the kids started playing board games, relaxing on the deck, coloring, reading and actually LIVING! We played charades as a family every night, the kids played checkers and we painted rocks and kayaked. It was GLORIOUS.

5. Don’t just stroll… take your family “work out” walking. Julian and I make it a point of taking the kids on a long and physical walk every other day. There is something about walking for actual miles or tackling a hike that has brought us together. It’s a chance to actually talk! To work out together and feel that sense of accomplishment. To actually feel better afterwards!

During this quarantine, we have gotten closer as a family with making it a point to do this. And guess what? At first the kids didn’t want to go.. about a month or more of us forcing them honestly… but then guess what happened? Their bodies started to crave it, and now they jump up and actually WANT to go with us.

Find your favorite hiking and walking trails that don’t have traffic! Walking around the “pond” or hiking those stairs with all the people from the neighborhood is NOT finding the road less traveled – there are plenty of places and times of day that don’t have a lots of people… find it.

6. Sign the kids up for virtual summer camps.

I have signed the kids up for online music lessons and dance classes. When my daughter get’s done with virtual dance class she is ALIVE! She is buzzing and so excited about what she is learning. We even did virtual recitals! Complete with photo shoots.

7. Create together! I’m a creative person, but you can be to! Order paint by numbers that you can do together! A puzzle… something easy! Make a succulent garden… ummm make a vision board. These memories of creating together can’t be replaced. I am grateful for quarantine, we have become even more creative as a family.

8. Allow gaming! I’m old yes… well getting there at 41. I didn’t realize when the kiddos play RoBlox and Minecraft they can actually ‘meet up’ virtually with eachother. Then they get on facetime so they can talk as their characters interact. IT’s actually kind of cool to watch this new world of playing with eachother. But it is very social and very interactive. They are learning from eachother. And these games are engaging! They build worlds and businesses together. My daughter built a farm and had animals to take care of. My son built a pizza shop with a little girl that lives in the apartments! All virtually.

I allow and encourage “facetime” and zoom gaming everyday for my 8 year old son to interact with school friends. He wakes up asking for them! At first they were awkward together on facetime, but now its normal and its part of his day. I allow maximum 2 hours of gaming. I don’t want him to become an absolute zombie. I allow much more time for my 16 year old however. He stays on until 2am, and now that summer has kicked in, I give him that freedom.

The full poem by Robert Frost is below, it inspired today’s post.

This part specifically sticks with me during the pandemic

Two roads diverged in a wood, andI took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

The Road Not Taken

BY ROBERT FROST

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.