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erin

erin

I'm Erin Jo. I'm thinking, writing, dreaming, mothering, loving, living, praising, BLESSED to be Fiona to my Shrek and Mommy to my four amazing kiddos.

dave

dave

Shrek is "like an onion with many layers" but has a heart of gold. He's my husband and my friend, and we just get better all the time.

lily

lily

Lily is my first baby and only girl. She's smart, funny, tall and kind. Keeping up with this girl is a challenge and a joy. She's terrific!

max

max

Max is one part ogre, two parts lover and all boy! Our little man has a temper but gives the best hugs of anyone I know!

colby

colby

Colby is as ornery as he looks. He flirts shamelessly, even with strangers. He's all mouth and curls and the loudest by far.

luke

luke

Luke is the baby of the family, but holds his own. He's happy and adorable. And he's a terrible sleeper. =)

Hold the bubble

It’s so early into this thing, and I still don’t even know how to count the days. Is this Day 5? Day 3?

What a crazy thing! Take a society that is used to everything at the touch of a button, at their very fingertips. Take a nation that is used to being on the go, all the time. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks on the run nearly every day of the week. Practices, games, exams, meetings and deadlines. All the time, the deadlines. What could throw the biggest wrench in this thing? Seclusion. Shutdown. Shelter-in-place.

It’s the best novel plot. A perfect climax. A true nightmare.

In spite of all of this, a tanking economy, a delayed Ohio primary election and postponed higher education commencement exercises, I still get it.

But it doesn’t make it any easier.

I’d say, over here at the house of the Roberts family, we’re doing OK. I’ve been able to work 15 hours in the past three days. We’ve gotten them outside when possible, for basketball in the driveway, bike rides, hikes, and more. We’ve fed what feels like an army at least four times a day. How can six people be an army?

I’m not sure, but we’re in this war. Not just the one against COVID-19. But this war with ourselves, our instincts, each other, our appetites. There’s a war going on in the back of my brain right now trying to wrap my mind around the fact that this is looking like it’s going to last more like six to eight weeks and not just three, like I originally told myself.

There are so many good moments, though. We’ve conquered nearly all of the homework, family yoga, a couple of novels, 2.5 puzzles, an ENTIRE game of Phase 10, some Lunchtime Doodles with Mo Willems, several games of Blokus, an art project, two hikes, three runs. Something is working here!

So, just like that first time you were successful in blowing the perfect bubble as a child….. hold the bubble. I see you struggling to keep your sanity. I raise you mine.

Hold the bubble.

7 Responses

  1. Patti says:

    Sounds like Team Roberts is making the best of it and making memories as well.
    Hang in there !

  2. Julie Mayle says:

    Great blog, as always. But hold on, a whole new wrench is being thrown in. As factory/laborers start to go into temperary layoffs, this will all be rewritten. For me, and all of those in the physical part of the work field, we can not work from home. Factory workers will now be learning to deal with this sense of isolation. Mine will start Friday. So, keep writing…..😁😁😁 I will need to feel connected.

  3. Traci Nichols says:

    ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

  4. Sara Beardsley says:

    “Something is working here…”! Obviously I hate this for a million reasons, but, it is certainly giving families some time to slow down and reconnect! The ultimate Monopoly game that actually ENDS!

  5. Another wonderful blog. See good things are still happening. The resurrection of your blog is an example. I love reading them. Kudos to you and your kids. So far so good!

  6. Megan Westervelt says:

    This helped me keep perspective so much! Thank you, brilliant writer and friend. You and your beautiful family will always be an enormous source of inspiration 🙂 Keep strong!

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