March 2020--Like so many across the world right now, I am working from home. I am one of the fortunate ones.
Fortunate I still have a job. Fortunate I can work from home. Fortunate my responsibilities can be fulfilled via email or phone, and fortunate I have access to technology that provides me the opportunity to connect with colleagues and my place of employment.
I'm also fortunate I do not have young children at home. I'm hearing from others how right at this moment they're trying to do their work, trying to be teachers and trying to be parents. Blending all this can be a little grueling to say the least. So many distractions. Your work distracts you from parenting. Parenting distracts you from teaching. Teaching distracts you from your work. And the cycle continues.
Yes, I am fortunate. My only distractions right now are my puppy and the Hallmark Channel. Both can pull me from my work in a heartbeat. The pup needs to go out. A new movie is on (and this one doesn't have a prince!). Email needs response. The pup needs to come in. The movie is a rerun but I watch for a moment anyway. The pup needs water. I switch channels to see what new information about the coronavirus is being aired. The pup needs to go out. I learn I'll be working remotely a little longer than I thought. The pup needs to come in. The pup is also surfing the counters looking for food--just like the humans stuck in their homes.
I turn off the television. Pretty proud of myself that I've just cut my distractions in half. But there's still the pup. He's not used to having someone around during the day so he's pretty excited. I have some important emails to send so I throw him a bone. Literally. That keeps him occupied. Not as long as I thought. I didn't even get to hit the "send" button and he's back at my feet. Now I get a video-phone call. Right in the middle of speaking with a colleague, the pup jumps on the counter. Yes, I was working in the kitchen. His paws are massive and so is his head. He fills the entire camera lens making it so I'm nowhere to be seen. We chuckle and end the call. What else can we do? I do the next best thing. I open the back door and let him go play outside in the yard.
Back at my computer, I'm trying to catch up on my work and it's working. I'm happy about that. The pup is now barking at the dog next door. Not sure how long my neighbors will be able to handle the noise or if that's a good distraction for them. A few more minutes go by and his bark is distracting me. The pup needs to come in.
Take it one day at a time.....
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