Are You in Pandemic Survival Mode Too?

The coronavirus pandemic has been playing a role for close to a year now. Here in the Netherlands the primary schools have just reopened their doors having been closed since 16 December. However, we are still in a national lockdown. Essential shops are closed. As are all leisure facilities and sport schools. And of course the hairdressers. So on top of everything else, we all have corona hair. I haven’t written much for Happy Sensitive Kids lately. And I guess it’s because I have activated pandemic survival mode.

The Coronavirus Up Close and Personal

In March 2020, we had the coronavirus. Nearly a year on I am in physiotherapy to get my breathing back on track (good news is I am almost there, I think). My nine year old is still using an inhaler twice a day. Before the coronavirus he did not have an inhaler, or any issues with his breathing.

Understandably, as the Dutch government warns of a third wave with the British variant dominant, which could be worse than the first two, we, as a family, are being cautious. The last thing we need is a second dose of this virus, which I can assure you is not ‘just like the flu’.

Striking the balance between not putting life on hold and not inviting another bout of the virus into our home is straining.

Hence, Pandemic Survival Mode

So, as we sit in a second national lockdown, my general state of happiness is waning by the day. Boredom is also playing a role in my state of mind.

I obviously haven’t been able to get back to England since the pandemic started so seeing family has all been via video calls or the telephone.

I have attended a funeral by means of a live stream.

Too much deep thinking. Too much stressing about things that haven’t happened. And about things that have. All typical highly sensitive person things.

And I guess at some point I activated the pandemic survival mode button. Each day I am doing what I absolutely need to do. I leave the house to walk, go to my physio appointments and do groceries when absolutely necessary. And I do client assignments.

And that’s it.

Until recently the only time the kids left the house was to play, go for a walk, or go to football training. And now, the two youngest are physically back in school. Which raises mixed feelings.

Touching Base

So I just wanted to say hi to you *waves enthusiastically* and explain the radio silence on the blog. I have had waves of inspiration that have ended up shaping the monthly Happy Sensitive Kids newsletters. But I am struggling to come up with much else at the moment.

Hope you are all well, safe and coping! But please shout out if you are not.