The boredom has set in; the honeymoon may very well be over. Today, marks one week of no school (and Day 13 of our family’s quarantine). Each week, there seems to be a new norm we all have to find the courage to adapt to and this week, our Governor of Wisconsin has suspended all sleepovers and play dates. I think we finally have the attention of all generations, big and little.

I could see and feel the agitation from my daughter build right before her mouth spewed the words, “Well, you get to do everything you want and we don’t!” I know she’s bored and frustrated, but golly gee. Does she think worrying over this worldwide pandemic is fun or having to parent my parents is entertaining? Each day, I’m connecting with my peeps from long ago and today and we share love and guidance.

I feel for all people living through hell right now. Their stories and situations cause me to find empathy I never knew I had.

The husband who dropped off his wife in the ER but had to return home while doctors had put his wife on a ventilator. The daughter who is eight hours away and cannot be with either parent to offer her love and support.

The mother of three who has no car and no access to the local grocery store (which is out of groceries anyways), so she is thankful the school is busing breakfast and lunch each day.

The young, healthy doctor who received an email asking him to step up when the first CO-VID19 patient arrives.

The new homeschooling mother who feels like a failure.

The family who is downstairs while dad is quarantined upstairs due to a fever.

The single parent (whose ex-husband is overseas with CO-VID19) who openly admitted her job is more important than homeschooling her kids at this moment in order to keep her house.

These are the stories from my people, the ones I call family and friends, in just a week’s time. It’s not a generational thing-it’s a humankind thing.