FALL AND CLEANUP AND COVID-19

 Trying to stay focused with all the Fall activities.

So cleaned up my back porch veggie pots and it does look cleaner and better. Will put all the odds and ends away in the garage when I am ready to tackle the garage. I like to make room for my car over the winter months.

Kids back to school in most of my kinship families. So am watching closely how the month unfolds for them.

COVID numbers are up so must not let my guard down. I still try to limit the number of social outings to my family group.

A nice pot of yellow Mums on my front table. Bring on Fall.

#fall#kidsbacktoschool#COVID19woescontinue#cleaningupthegardenareasinmylife#cleaneduptheveggiepots#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NANA SAYS SEEING OUR CHILDREN BACK AT SCHOOL MELTS MY HEART

 Okay I get it. Parents had to make the decision of back to school or stay home.

I can't help but embrace the back to school. Jump in the deep end.

Wear a mask.

Physical distance.

Wash your hands.

Stay in your cohort.

Yes. Yes. Yes. There are risks and challenges. Tough for every parent. 

Yes I get it. 

But I care about the long term PTSD of the pandemic. The huge, yes very huge mental health piece.

So as much as I love all children, right now I care the most about my SIX and those of my family members coast to coast.

I am the backup as needed. 

School with its new normal has lots of challenges. But I believe in the kids. They will show us the way.

Six months ago no one would be doing all the protocols that have become the new normal for all of us.

So to mine and yours, keep going. Stand on your own two feet.

Resilience prevails. The corny day by day prevails.

Seeing a school bus picking up a student melted my heart. Something normal for September. A student and a bus driver doing their thing.

I drove by a local school yesterday. Seeing children in small groups in the school yard running around with a mask break being outside. I smiled. Not the old normal but the new normal. The teacher with her masks.

Our kids will show us the way. And this Nana will stand by them. Mask and clean hands.

#nanasaysyeahtobacktoschool#nanawillbethebackup#mysixreallycounts#schoolhelpswithmentalhealth#pandemicandmentalhealthissues#PTSDfromthepandemic#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#schoolandthenewnormal#parentshavetoughdecisions#nanaisalwaysthebackupandthereformygrandkiddies

RESILIENCE- A WORD FOR OUR TIMES

 To return to our original state after shock, depression, life's traumas.

In our COVID-19 times, our original state has changed. The world has changed, Canada has changed, our communities have changed and even our families have changed.

Resilience to me means getting through the tough times. Standing on my two feet. 

Maybe for the better. Maybe for the worst. Maybe just standing.

Moving one foot forward is resilience. Getting up and getting going. Slowly is really good enough.

Don't need preaching. Don't need advice. 

Love. Unconditional. Even with its shadows.

Support. Unconditional.

Compassion. Unconditional.

Family. More than ever. Especially little people hugs.

All the sayings- we are in this together works.

Alone but in a collective.

No one has all the answers. But we need positive ones. The negativity abounding is deafening. Go away.

Positive vibes win the race for resilience. 

Resilience is the word for our times. We are making it. We are doing it. We are getting there. With proper Public Health protocols in place of course!!

#resilience#resilienceawordforourtimes#love#support#standingonourowntwofeet#gettingthroughtouchtimes#compassion#goingaloneortogether#noadvice#nopreaching#covid19#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

POSITIVE BUT REALISTIC BACK TO SCHOOL

 We can lament the what ifs about the return to School all we want. But I feel the negativity is too profound.

Take a Breath.

Will there be glitches? Yup. Should there be concerns? Sure.

But folks. The parents, the teachers, the support staff, the community can do it.

I believe the children of all ages need to be back at school. Those doing it online need some social stimulation too.

The ones that will lead the way are our kids. They will show us they can do it. 

If it had been 5  months ago, no one would want to follow the Public Health protocols.

Now masks, hand sanitizer, physical distancing, limiting social gatherings are the NEW NORM. 

So let's go back to school safely and with some joy that children and older students will be where they want to be. 

With friends.

With face to face teachers.

In their educational settings.

They will show us the way.

#backtoschoolduringapandemic#COVID19#trustthechildren#newnorm#maskhandsantizerphysicaldistancing#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

LABOUR DAY WEEKEND 2020

 Usually the end of the EX and the roar of the Air Show jets flying throughout the GTA. Due to COVID-19 cancelled. There was some virtual stuff but too much virtual has become redundant. I would rather break my neck trying to see the planes live.

So how to enjoy this real end of summer and start of the staggered beginning of school.

Well Labour is a good word. Doing some decluttering, organizing and planning of activities.

The community groups need some work done by me.

My genealogy which is ongoing. To continue with those immediate stories. Uploading pictures for the stories.

Oh the jungle of a garden looms and beacons me to tidy it up. A necessary but boring job. I like looking at the garden, not working in it. But did buy a pack of 20 yard waste bags to inspire me.

Trying to be outside as much as possible. Even a restaurant  patio lunch on a windy, cool day with a daughter Friday. Too soon to try indoor dining.

So how is your labour day weekend going! More of the same or something exciting.

#labourdayweekend#doingsomelabour#tryingtoenjoytheendofsummer#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

A DREAM CATCHER IN THE WOODS

 Dream catchers are interesting. They can be as different as the people who have them.

This dream catcher is in my den. Adolph bought it years ago. It has the wolf. His name Adolph means Noble Wolf.

The first dream catcher is a painting by the Chef Zach at a tasting I attended with Sonya in South Bruce Pennisula.

Although a very Canadian or should I say Indigenous symbol, Adolph bought his dream catcher in a market in his hometown of Cassino Italy.

The whole symbolism of a dream catcher is fodder for another post sometime.

#dreamcatchers#noblewolf#indigenoussymbol#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#southbrucepennisulaontario

SEPTEMBER BEGAN WITH A PLAN

 What is the plan?

Well really to keep going. To keep doing. To cry a little. To laugh a little. I may cry more than a little though.

Finishing those craft projects. One afghan stitch blanket that has many pieces and squares to be sewn together is on the way. 

To work through clutter corners of the house. 

Even today some items to the Food Bank. If not using then give away for someone else.

An online course that will keep me busy for a few hours every week for 12 weeks. 

Connecting with my social groups and doing some work for them.

Tired of the same TV shows I think I will check out some of the new ones. And of course craft while I watch them.

Need to do more than just going around and around in life!!

And the daughters and families need my backup support so Nana will be to the rescue. I do have my police check done from a year ago so can even go to the school setting if needed.

To try to beat this COVID-19 thing. So eat well, exercise, vitamins and all Public Health protocols. If I stay well then I help those around me to stay well.

Keeping busy with purposeful activities.

So not an exciting plan but doable.

What is your plan? Organized or go with the flow?? 

We are all holding our breath that the kids back to school will be safe, strong and mentally good for all- students, parents, teachers and all the support staff available.

So September bring it on!! But not too cold too soon okay??

#September#Septemberplans#backtoschoolsafely#keepingbusy#cryalittle#laughalittle#finishingcraftprojects#workingthroughtheclutterinthehouse#keepingbusywithpurposefulactivities#beingbackupsupportformygirlsandgrandchildren#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro