During the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) for Covid-19, many of us (except me) have a lot of free time. There are actually so many things to do, like finish household chores, do some spring cleaning, homecooking, and also take a personal retreat. Here, I am giving way a Bacolod mom’s self-assessment during the month-long Covid-19 lockdown. It’s a good read.
Personal Check
It is nice to be able to do a self-check once in a while. This personal time helps us to think, assess ourselves, and also to re-align our vision in life.
The Covid-19 has forcefully given us time off. Well, at least for most of us. The whole Philippines has been on lockdown for at least 30 days and that is a lot of time for us to do what we need to do and still have extra time to ponder upon our lives.
Being Productive
Our family has been staying at home for 46 days now. Our Boracay trip this month was cancelled, and I’m afraid, the rest of our travels for the year. Shane is making the most of summer though. Read: Labadoracay: Beating ECQ Boredom With Humor and Creativity
For me, I had been really productive with my writing as well as homecooking. Our family has been enjoying the new menu I dish out everyday. It has been my goal to try cooking for them everyday, at least just to make everyone happy while being grounded at home.
Additionally, cooking as well as plating has been quite therapeutic for me. It keeps my mind off worries. And as long as I am fed, I feel happy. haha Mababaw kaligayahan ko!
I have also been busy coming up with ways to cook sardines. Many Filipino families are stuck with canned sardines in tomato sauce because of the quarantine. But with some creativity, we can still feed a family for a P50 or less. My dishes are trying to keep the waning family budget in mind while many employees are jobless at this time.
Here are some of my sardine creations:
- Sardine Java Rice: A Filipino Family Meal Below P50
- Spicy Sardine Frittata: 50-peso-Dish for a Family of 5 from Covid-19 Relief Packs
- Sardine Spaghetti Aglio Olio Recipe: 50-Peso Dish During Family Quarantine
A Bacolod Mom’s Self-Assessment
Meanwhile, with her permission, I am sharing this Bacolod mom’s self-assessment during the time of enhanced community quarantine. Mommy Daphne is a stay at home mom with two children, Ate Gianna and Gio, a little boy born with a cleft lip and palate. Eventually, he was diagnosed with developmental delay.
Her husband, Ian, works in a call center and like most working families, they, too, are feeling the effects of emotional, mental, psychological, and economic effects of the ECQ.
Living one day at a time.
I recognize that there is nothing more I could do at this point but to live one day at a time. I don’t worry much anymore about tomorrow—God has been and will always be faithful.
Grateful living.
I’m grateful for:
- Mornings and sunshine
- For food and water
- Family and friends who check on us,
- For social media and TV entertainment while on quarantine
- For the kids getting well after being sick for a week
- My husband who cooks for us and runs errands.
I’m grateful for our frontliners, for the government’s efforts in handling this crisis, for all the volunteers and donors, and those who stepped up to fill the gaps. I’m grateful to be alive and healthy, though I still wish I’d gain a few pounds while on ECQ!
Pushing the pause button.
I know that there’s a purpose for all these. We all needed some time off from our busy lives—
We all need to pause, rest, and relax. Meanwhile, we can use this quarantine time to reconnect with family members and spend quality time with them. To do household chores we’ve put on hold because we didn’t have much time before.
Moreover, we can reread our favorite books, enjoy our hobbies again, learn a new skill, or be creative in preparing family meals given the limited ingredients in our pantry. Whatever it is, we can all accomplish something and still be productive while on lockdown.
Helping others.
After making sure that our family’s needs are met, we can then check on our other family members and friends. Call and ask if they need anything, or offer to do errands for them.
Check on your neighbors, too. Share what you can especially to those who are less advantaged. Volunteer. Donate. Help in any way. We’re all called to show kindness and compassion to our neighbors, especially in a difficult time as this. Be a Covid Warrior in your own little ways.
Note: Recently, her daughter Gianna celebrated an online birthday party during the quarantine. In lieu of gifts, they asked for donations for food packs for the trisikad drivers living near their community.
In the End
When this is all over, I just hope I can look back and say I’ve grown while on quarantine. That I’ve become a better version of me—a better wife, a better mom, daughter, sister, friend, a better Filipino, and above all, a better Christian. Read: Which Bible Character Are You Like in This Crisis?
Lovingly,
Other Covid-19 stories
Meanwhile, here are other Covid-19 stories in this blog:
- Choosing a Nail Salon Wisely Post Covid-19 ECQ
- Improve the Air Quality in Your Home
- The Covilyzer UVC Sanitizer Bag for Your Home
- Activities for Kids During Home Quarantine for Covid-19
- Working from Home and Homeschooling Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic
- SM Store Delivers to Your Home
- nCoV Scare: Don’t Panic But Be Careful About the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (covid-19)
- Clean and Pamper Your Hands with The Body Shop
- Ease Your Worries: Pau Liniment for Pasma, Tired Muscles, and Weary Mind