Sunday, 18 October 2020

Meanwhile ... IRL

Apparently IRL or irl is “in real life”! I am learning the chat lingo from my Grade 8 students who will all be 13 years old at the end of 2020. Newly minted teenagers seem to take irreverent pride in their new title. They have also called me a boomer! ‘Nuff with that!

 

So what has been happening in real life? Mostly, I have been neglecting it or shelving parts of it. We were supposed to start and finish a window replacement project between October 9th and the 22nd. However, since I started teaching online on the 1st and couldn’t afford to take a break, the window replacement project has been postponed to sometime next year. I actually started cleaning up in preparation and now, that is on hold as well.

 

Even as I am cancelling and postponing some events and projects, I cannot stop everything. Thanksgiving was different, but delightful. My brother, my sister-in-law and my nephew, who usually host a lunch at their home, decided to drop off dinner packages to family members. It was heartwarming to “share” the same meal in 5 different homes.

 

ASid also came home for Thanksgiving. He arrived on the Day and left yesterday. Although I neglected the boy, it was wonderful to have him home. Hans also had an opportunity to stay home the whole week as he came down with his semi-annual cold and cough. So the house was full and Momley was busy. Somehow, we all survived and managed to eat at least one family meal together on Friday night.

 

I finally understand what working moms deal with. I cannot talk for every working mom, but I feel a lot of guilt - I don’t have time to listen to my own kids and I don’t call my family and friends anymore. Maybe the transition will take a few more days before I am able to balance my new responsibilities with my personal life.

 

I miss my life.

 

At this point in time, if I have to look back and rethink all the decisions I made in the last 20 years … I would NOT change anything. If this pandemic has taught me something, it is just that! Money comes and goes. I only have one life and I only have one each of my family and my friends. They are irreplaceable. Also, Time is the most precious commodity. Time lost is lost forever.

 

On that note, I take leave. Today, there are no regrets and no complaints.

 

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