The new normal

My guess is you have already adjusted to many things that are the "new normal". 

You are missing sitting at the ball field or watching your favorite teams on TV.  

You are running through the drive through with your spouse and sitting in the parking lot having your "date" instead of holding hands across the table.

You are working from your computer with virtual chats and online meetings.

You are wearing masks, gloves,  and you know what the letters PPE stand for.

You search every store for Clorox wipes and toilet paper only to find the shelves empty.

Your church  now consists of  the pastor preaching his sermon to an online following of hearts and likes.

You don't hug.

You don't hold hands.

You don't touch your face. 

Your kids are not in school.

You try to homeschool.

You give up on trying to homeschool.

Whew!  It is a lot to adjust to...this new version of "normal".

But have these things also become the "norm" now?

You are cooking healthy meals and eating them around the family table.

You have roasted hot dogs by an open fire.

You have been home long enough to clean out closets and do home improvement projects.

You have walked and petted your dog to a point they are running away from you!

You have read a book.

You have baked cookies with your kids.

You are checking on your elderly parents...daily.

As much change as this virus has ushered in, all of it is not so bad.  I for one have looked at the busyness of the family and wondered how we got there. For some time I have observed families rushing from one activity to another and I wondered if things could ever get back to something a little less complex;  Something that would require a couple of post- it note reminders instead of  a complex calendar of dates and events.  Something that would not only slow our minds down, but help us really reconnect.

Then the world put up a "Sorry, we're closed" sign and just like that, we stopped.

Interesting that something that has supposedly taken away our connection might be the very thing that helps us reconnect.

Just like you, I've wondered how we are going to get back to our "norm".  But, do we have to add back everything?  Sure I want to eat out at our favorite restaurant again, but I treasure the time spent around our kitchen table. Of course sports need to a be a part of our lives, but does it have to take center stage and will we still have time for our nightly UNO match? By all means let's go back to our churches and worship together but have we discovered that we are reaching many more people by offering it online as well?

 And when we are finally able to add back a hug? Look out...I'm going to linger and hold on way longer than the 3 second shoulder pat would dictate. Waaay longer.

We can look back on this one day and lament all that we lost. We can complain and cry and fuss over what it took.   But, if we are intentional, we can hear our children one day recall the spring that Mama and Daddy played ball with them every afternoon. If we keep our wits about us, our children can learn to bake our famous banana bread.  If we have a mind to, we can hang up a hammock and swing a little.

If we don't lose our minds, we can take back family. 

Who's with me? Let's welcome back the "new normal".

Every wound healed.  Every child, a home.

Superheroes often wear masks

Amber Martin, foster parent and health care worker

Superheroes almost always wear masks.  You know, Batman and his black eye covering. Superman and his head gear. All of them have some form of  a masked "disguise".

Superheroes are now wearing masks of another kind.

At Childhelp, we are not strangers to watching superheroes. We don't take for granted the opportunity to see people step up as a foster parent and walk with a child through their trauma to a  point of healing...to that hurting child, there is no greater superhero. We also are witness to the youngest of heroes as we watch children bravely overcome their trauma and abuse and embrace a life of love and joy.  Honestly, it feels like we are the privileged ones to be able to be a part of something so

Our children bravely overcome their trauma

miraculous...so heroic.
At this time in our world, though, some of our foster parents have had to wear more than one kind of superhero mask. These foster parents are not only amazing at helping kids through their trauma, but also have jobs as health care workers. Daily they are putting themselves on the frontlines of this pandemic and we are grateful for their sacrifice and for once again putting on this superhero mask.
Amber Martin is a Childhelp superhero.  She works at Children's Hospital and on top of that she is fostering three kids...who are now at home full time! Amber is having to risk exposure to Covid-19 on a daily basis.
She takes precautions.
She is careful.
But, all of that care doesn't cure the worry in her mind that she could bring this virus home to her family.  I asked Amber how she is handling all of this and taking care of her family as well.  Here are her thoughts:

Me: What are you and those around you at work feeling right now?

Amber: I feel this pressure on me. The hospital feels like a ghost town because people aren't allowed to come in. I work in the NICU and parents can only come be with their baby one at a time.  As soon as you walk in the hospital, you always wonder if there are people who will come in that day who are exposed to the virus. I cannot act like I am afraid of my patients. I have to continue to engage and make them feel comfortable.
All workers have to go through a screening process before entering. As I enter, I say a prayer each day for what might happen.  We are always ready to deploy to another area of the hospital if necessary.

Me: What routine are you going through to protect yourself and those around you?

Amber: As I said, workers have a screening and questionnaire. We go through that along with having our temperature taken before we even go inside the hospital. We wear gloves and masks at all times. If we touch something with our gloves, we change them. When I come home, I go from garage to laundry room. Chris (Amber's husband) has Lysol waiting for me and I strip down in the laundry room and spray down everything that can't go in the wash. I go straight to the shower and have to wait for hugs until I'm completely sanitized.

Me: What is the hardest part for you concerning this pandemic, both as a healthcare worker and as a foster parent?

Amber: Getting used to this new normal.  Trying to make sure the kids feel safe. Our younger one has really acted out because all of his routines have changed. I don't want them to fear what is going on in the world. They already have enough fear and worry.

Me: If you could communicate any message to us "civilians", what would it be?

Amber:  Please stay home so we can go back to seeing smiling faces, not hidden by masks. And more importantly, so that children can have both parents with them in the hospital. I can't imagine having a child in the hospital and being told I couldn't visit. But safety for the children must come first!

Amber added that we are all in this together and we  have to have faith that God will get us through this.

Angela Gribanow taking extra precautions

Another long time Childhelp foster parent, Angela Gribanow, offered similar advice. Angela and her husband John both work in medical facilities where their exposure to the virus is greater. Angela has a cousin who passed away due to this virus and knows others who were infected but gratefully have now recovered. Angela advises to keep wearing masks, wash and sanitize your hands often, and don't forget to sanitize things that you touch often like car door handles.

While neither of these two ladies think of themselves as heroes, all of us at Childhelp would beg to differ. They have loved, protected, and provided for many children and now are unselfishly loving and serving the public by using their medical skills at a time when we are most in need.

We are grateful to you and appreciate your skills and service at this time. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Every wound healed. Every child, a home.