Pandemic New Year's resolutions

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Ah, New Year's resolutions. The time-honored tradition of making yourself promises that you will break after a month. This year, I am going to make New Year's resolutions that I can definitely stick to for the full year. So far my New Year's resolutions for 2021 have boiled down to:

1. Survive global pandemic
2. Get COVID-19 vaccine when available
3. Wear a mask

According to a survey by Allianz Life, 57% of Americans rank health and wellness as their top priority for 2021, and 61% of Americans said they were more stressed in 2020 compared to the previous year.

“If 2020 taught us anything, it emphasized the idea that anything can happen, and we need to be prepared for the unexpected," said Aimee Johnson from Allianz Life in a news release.

That is the understatement of the year! 

Next year, I hope I will be able to return my regular New Year's resolutions of losing weight and going to the gym. Are you making New Year's resolutions for 2021?

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

Math story problems for moms

Image by Pixapopz from Pixabay

After a month of attempting to my help my 8-year-old son with his homework, I have to say I'm a bit worried about whoever writes his story problems for math.

Actual math problem: Jack sees 12 birthday presents on the table, and 30 presents in the closet. How many birthday presents is he getting in total?

Wait, what? Why is this child getting 42 presents for his birthday? Can we just set the bar a little lower, please? I've never gotten 42 presents for anything, except my wedding, and I had to split those.

Here are some story problems that reflect real life a lot better, in my opinion.

1. Mom is supervising 3 hours of remote school and 2 hours of homework per day. How many total hours of unpaid labor per day is she working?
   
2. Mom has decided everyone should wear their clothes for 3 days in a row since no one is going anywhere. How many loads of laundry is she still doing?
   
3. Mom had done 2 jigsaw puzzles with 500 pieces for each puzzle. How long did it take her to finish each puzzle?
   
4. Mom can only binge-watch television after her two children go to sleep. How many hours of television can she watch each day?
   

Answer key:

1. 12,765 billion hours.
2. Somehow it's the same amount of laundry!
3. She will never finish because there's always a missing piece.
4. One hour if she's lucky.

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

Remote learning isn't remotely stressful, right?

Image by 192635 from Pixabay

After a lovely 52 days of in-person school, the school district decided to move to remote learning on Monday due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in Colorado. I took a week off work to make sure my kindergartener and second-grader got set up for a smooth transition. I carefully set up both their laptops on the dining room table and gathered their passwords in a neat pile.

• Monday: First 30 minutes pass quietly. This is going to be no problem, right?
  My son gets mad because my daughter has a break and he doesn't.
  His teacher calls me ater school to see why he was crying.
  
• Tuesday: The laptop is mysteriously showing the ceiling on the webcam. I have no idea how to fix it.
  We switch laptops, which causes my daughter to be 30 minutes late logging onto Zoom.
  
• Wednesday: The children start throwing their snacks at each other during break.
  My son decides to wear his Chewbacca hat on camera.
  
• Thursday: I can't find the correct worksheet in the bin filled with reams of paper.
  I finally make a fake worksheet that looks the same.
  
• Friday: The children are obnoxiously eating their breakfast during class.
  They get into a wrestling match and are separated into different rooms.

Made it through one week! Only 123 days more to go, not that I'm counting every minute. No, I'm not remotely stressed. Why do you ask?

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

Is that a feeling of hope?

Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

When I heard Joe Biden had won the presidency this morning, I sat down and cried tears of relief. I don't think this country could survive another four years under President Trump, who has systematically tried to dismantle democracy. 

I went about my day with a feeling of lightness. I ran errands. I went to the post office. I went to grab a cup of coffee. I could barely even recognize the feeling bubbling under the surface. Was it hope?

I'm registered as an Independent, so I don't even follow politics that closely, but I also have read the Constitution at least once. My hope is that President Trump has exposed all the loopholes we need to fix. Any norm that relies on common decency is clearly not enough. We need to make it a law for presidents to release their taxes or divest their businesses.

To be sure, there will still be challenges ahead. My children's school is moving to remote learning on Nov. 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cases are surging in Colorado, and Denver is moving to a 10 p.m. curfew this weekend. 

A long winter appears on the horizon, but at least I can picture a spring at some point in the future. A spring with President Joe Biden who respects the rule of law, who believes in science and who will try to stop Americans from dying from COVID-19. 

I don't even care about Biden's political agenda. I just care that there is a sane adult in the White House. 

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

Quiz: Are we living in 2020 or the Middle Ages?

Image by Pezibear from Pixabay

Sometimes the world can be a disorienting place, especially in times of global pandemics. To help determine which time period you are living in, here is a handy quiz.

1. Is there a plague sweeping through the land?
   Yes
   No
   

2. Is the leader of the country ignorant of science?
   Yes
   No
   

3. Do some people think it's a punishment by God?
   Yes
   No
   

4. Are the caretakers of the sick dying at alarming rates?
   Yes
   No
   

5. Are people wearing funny-looking masks?
   Yes
   No
   

If you answered yes to all the above questions, it's still hard to tell if it's the Middle Ages or not. However, if you are taking this quiz on a computer, it must be 2020.

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

Back to School in the Time of COVID-19

Graphic courtesy of chiplanay on Pixabay

"Don't forget your mask," I say lightly. 

I try to use the same tone of voice as I use for "Don't forget your water bottle!" and "Don't forget your lunch!"

My children have survived the first week of in-person school.  Sometimes I think they are more resilient than I am. 

Perhaps it's simple math. I have been alive for more than 40 years, so one year of wearing a mask to school is more of an anomaly than it is for my 5-year-old and 7-year-old.

I thought I would be thrilled to have some quiet time while my children are both in school, but instead I found myself missing them. I had gotten used to their constant presence in the past five months since their school district shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now they are back in school. Deep breath. With the same class sizes as last year. Deep breath. 

We live in Colorado, where the pandemic hasn't caused quite as much devastation as other states. At least not yet. Deep breath.

At least I am mastering a very important parenting skill known as "Pretend Everything is Normal Even When You're Freaking Out Inside." Simply because the alternative is to never let them leave the house.

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

A Strange Year for Kindergarten

Image by Thanks for your Like from Pixabay

My five-year-old daughter is ready to start kindergarten, a milestone that I have looked forward to for a while. No more bills for preschool! No more making lunches everyday! No more separate schedules for my daughter and my seven-year-old son!

Then came the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. Now I'm worried public school will never look the same again.

Last year, I daydreamed about dropping both kids off at the same elementary school in the 2020-2021 school year. This year, I'm still waiting to hear back from our school district on whether the start of school will be in-person classes or virtual learning.

Last year, I worried whether sending my daughter to preschool three days a week would prepare her for kindergarten five days a week. This year, I'm worried about sending her to any school for five days a week.

Some parents are choosing to delay kindergarten by a year in the hopes that everything gets back to normal next year. But if preschool is canceled, parents are still on the hook for monthly tuition, a fact which I only discovered in April 2020.

I also don't know if next year will be any better. I'm optimistic that we will discover a cure for COVID-19 at some point, but I don't know if it will arrive in time for the 2021-2022 school year.

My children have a few weeks before school starts. At this point, I'm trying to prepare for any scenario.

What have you decided to do for your children's upcoming school year? Share your responses in the comments below.

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

Vacation in the Time of Pandemic

Estes Park, Colo. Photo by Nina Snyder

The coronavirus pandemic upended plans for elementary school, summer camp and karate lessons in our household. We decided to take a break and go the the mountains for three nights to preserve some sort of summer for our children. After all, living in Denver without being able to go to the mountains in like living in Kansas City -- without the good barbecue.

However, vacationing in the time of a pandemic brings its own challenges. How many masks do you pack per person? I've never had to think about that before, but settled on two. Is it safe to go out to eat? Should we stay in a hotel?

We ending up renting a cabin in Estes Park, Colo., to maximize social distancing while still being able to enjoy Rocky Mountain National Park and other attractions in the popular tourist town. The national parks are open, but require reserving a time slot in advance. We packed up the car with a cooler full of food and fond memories of past vacations.

When we arrived at our destination, the check-in desk was a ghost town and all the outdoor seating on the porch had been removed. I worried briefly that it was a bad omen, but our five-year-old daughter immediately fell in love with the cabin.

"This is the nicest place I've every stayed," she said when she saw the bunk beds. The first night passed peacefully, although my seven-year-old son thought the quiet of the woods seemed spooky. He crawled into bed with us in the middle of the night.

So far, the rest of the vacation has been smooth, with some minor hiccups not related to the pandemic. Despite a car full of Colorado natives, no one remembered to pack a water bottle, which is essential for hiking at high altitude. The line of cars snaking into Rocky Mountain National Park also stretched just as far down the road as last year, even with the timed-entry system.

However, the majesty of Rocky Mountain National Park proved as majestic as ever -- even with our masks on. We even managed to eat out for buffalo burgers on a shaded patio.

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

Quiz: Who is Behind the Mask?

Image by shubham sharma from Pixabay

When do you wear the mask?

A. When out in public

B. When I'm assuming my other persona

C. All the time

2. What is your nickname?

A. Snowflake

B. Curse of Capistrano

C. Angel of Music

3. How do you like to relax?

A. Netflix and chill in my living room

B. Horseback riding near my villa

C. Listening to opera in my underground lair

5. What's your favorite pickup line?

A. "Do you want to quarantine with me?"

B. "Be careful señorita, there are dangerous men about."

C. “Say you'll love me every waking moment.”

6. Your mask makes you look...

A. Healthier

B. Sexier

C. Creepier

7. Why are you wearing the mask?

A. To prevent the spread of a highly-contagious virus

B. To hide my identity from the world

C. To cover up the deformed half of my face

8. What is your greatest fear?

A. Dying due to the careless behavior of others

B. Dying without avenging crimes against my family

C. Dying alone

Mostly A's - Congratulations! You are a concerned citizen doing your part to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Mostly B's - Congratulations! You are Zorro.

Mostly C's - Congratulations! You are the Phantom of the Opera.

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

A Return to Normalcy?

7-11 in Denver. Photo by Nina Snyder.

Colorado's stay-at-home expired yesterday, which means that today was the first day of the revised "safer-at-home" order. I ventured out to Dunkin Donuts to celebrate. What better way is there to mark one month of surviving a pandemic than deep-fried sweets?

It was almost back to normal. There was traffic. Someone honked at me, and another person cut me off, just like old times. I have never been more grateful for rude drivers. For the last month, everyone has been preternaturally polite.

The drive to the donut shop seemed almost normal, except for the fact that myself and my two children were all wearing masks in the car.

We passed a construction site, now bustling with construction workers. Normal. 

We passed my daughter's preschool, now closed for the school year in April. Not normal. 

We passed by 7-11, where I stopped to get gas at $1.65 a gallon. NOT NORMAL AT ALL.

Either I traveled back in time to two decades ago when gas was that price -- or
the new normal is an alternate universe where everyone stays at home, generating a precipitous drop in gas prices.

I vote for the first option.

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

Lessons in Doing Nothing for Quarantine

Photo by Nina Snyder

So far, it's been three weeks since Colorado's stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of coronavirus went into effect on March 26. For me, the hardest part has been wrapping my mind around the concept of doing something by doing nothing. Sitting at home binge-watching Netflix isn't exactly the heroic effort that previous generations have exerted in times of worldwide crisis.

I wrote about adjusting to wearing face masks for the Colorado Sun last week. This week, I finally got some additional to sew masks for local hospitals. So my net contribution to the Great Pandemic of 2020 will be 20 polka-dot face masks.

As I dusted off the sewing machine, I realized it has been years since I sewed anything. The last time I used a sewing machine, I was in high school, where I spent a lot of time doing nothing in a small town. If anything, this has been the best training for staying at home.

In high school, the main excitement consisted of driving in a loop around "downtown," which was approximately two blocks, in my friend's white Camaro. The car may have changed to a more family-friendly version, but last week the big weekend excitement was taking the family for a long drive around the neighborhood.

I'm afraid the rest of my quarantine will be a repeat of high school. I will lock myself in my room and listen to the Cure when I'm feeling angst. I will daydream of life in more exciting places. Maybe I will even sew my own prom dress in an '80s extravaganza of satin and chiffon.

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

Parenting During a Pandemic

Image from Pixabay

As a parent, part of your job is keeping your children safe. If I could, I would wrap my kids in bubble wrap to cushion their falls.

But one thing I never worried about was a global pandemic. Now I'm struggling to balance my anxiety with trying to keep my kids occupied.

Yesterday, I tried to muster up interest in the backyard swing set -- now that all playgrounds are wrapped with police tape in Denver. "Mommy, can I sit on the swing? Does it have germs?" my four-year-old asked.

Then she nervously took my hand when we took the dog for a walk. "I'm not sure if we should do this," she said. I tried to explain to her that we were still allowed to leave the house to go for walks

I thought I was doing a good job of explaining to her why we couldn't see grandma for a while. Of why preschool is closed. Of why one person has to go to the grocery store instead of the whole family.

Yesterday, as the US became the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, I seemed to have faltered as well. Today, I'm going to take a break from reading the coronavirus body count.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, keeping calm is key. "Remember that children will react to both what you say and how you say it. They will pick up cues from the conversations you have with them and with others," the CDC said in guidelines on its website.

Here are some other parenting tips from experts:

How to Calmly Explain the Coronavirus to Your Kids

Tips for handling work and kids during COVID-19 isolation

How to talk to children about the coronavirus

Do you have any tips to share about talking to your children about the coronavirus?

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

Trying Not to Panic at Stay-at-Home Order

Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay

A stay-at-home order for Denver residents starts today at 5 p.m. due to the coronavirus. I'm trying not to panic. I support it as this right thing to do, and yet, it has finally hit home that my life is going to to be drastically different in the next couple of months.

We have been staying at home as much as possible, but my two children don't always understand why we are home so much. School is out for at least a month, and most likely the rest of the year.

Yesterday, I took them to a deserted playground to let off steam. We also visited grandma's house.

But now, the playgrounds are closing at 5 p.m. And now grandma says it would be probably better if we stayed away. I'm sure both decisions are the right thing to do, but I have no Plan B.

The order allows people to go outside and exercise, as long as social distancing is maintained. But my elderly dog is already sick of walks. She hides from me when I try to go for walks.

Please don't inundate me with emails about flattening the curve. I want to flatten the curve. I just don't know how to keep my sanity while doing it.

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

Let's Do the Corona Cancel

Image from Pixabay

As coronavirus fears sweep the nation, let's do our part and hibernate. I canceled lunch with a former coworker on Friday, which would have involved taking public transportation and eating in a crowded restaurant.

It's 2020, for God's sake. We don't have a health care system in the US that's remotely prepared for a pandemic, but we do have Netflix. We don't have a president who even understands what a virus is, but we do have the technology that lets some of us work from home.

My children are on Spring Break next week, and we idly talked about taking a trip. Now it's Corona Cancel time. We're going to stay home and do crafts until our fingers ache and our dining room table is completely coated in glue and glitter.

Now is the time to embrace the aspects of American life that are so often denigrated. Let's embrace the drive-thru. We don't have to go into a restaurant to eat. We can avoid social contact and still receive delicious food.

Let's live all our life on Facebook. We don't have to ever talk to each other in person again. Forget "Bowling Alone." Let's try existing for the next four weeks without face-to-face contact.

Just practice with me.

"I can't make it. I have to Corona Cancel."

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

Everyone Needs a Little Encouragement

Image from Pixabay

Sometimes everyone needs a little encouragement. Today at the library, I wandered upstairs to the bathroom because one of the quirks of my favorite library is there are no restrooms for adults on the first floor.

As I walked past a meeting room on the second floor, there were a flock of young women dressed in black in a standing-room only meeting. Because I'm old and cynical, I assumed it was a a meeting of the anonymous variety.

However, as I'm in the bathroom washing my hands, a young woman nervously shares that it's a casting call. She's slender and blonde, with an enviable pair of peep-toe high heels.

She's fidgeting with her outfit, and seems very nervous. I assure that she looks great and that she'll blow them away. Then I wish her luck one more time, and head back down to rejoin the normal library patrons.

Now if only I could send myself some of that same positive energy as I sit down to apply for a writing opportunity that seems like a complete long shot. Everyone needs a little encouragement, but it's easier to encourage other people than myself!

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.

My Achievable New Year's Resolutions

Image from Pixabay

According to the American Psychological Association, making New Year's resolutions can help you focus on a goal, but only if you start small. The association recommends making resolutions that you can actually keep.

Every year, I resolve to lose 20 pounds and get my novel published. Every single year. This year, however, I am starting small with my scaled-down New Year's resolutions that are completely achievable.

1. Listen to the whole song on the radio when it's my favorite.
2. Go for a walk when the weather is nice.
3. Savor the first sip of coffee in the morning.
4. Hug my children more even if they moan and groan about it.
5. Start playing my guitar again instead of letting it collect dust in the corner.

Also, I would hereby like to start New Year's resolutions about a week into the New Year so everyone has enough time to really think over their resolutions. I think it's best to ease into the New Year instead of jumping in all at once.

What are your New Year's resolutions for 2020?

Nina Snyder is the author of ABCS OF BALLS and the designer of the HOT PINK ORCHARD JOURNAL. Follow her on Twitter @nsnyder_writer.