The first few weeks of isolation you were probably focused.

Determined.

Enthusiastic, even.

You will take this time and teach these kids and make the most of this time together, dadgummit.

If you're like me, then by now, reality has set in. It's not that easy to manage kids' education, manage your own job, keep a clean house when there are kids running around all day long purposefully NOT cleaning.

The house is a mess.

And, honestly, at first it was really tidy.

I was going behind the kids keeping it all neat and in order and I felt organized and ready to manage this social distancing time like a professional. The virus might be out of my control, but I could keep us home and safe and run a well oiled home machine.

Now?

Well.... we're having pizza for dinner 3 nights a week.

The kids are skipping baths more than they should. But swimming counts, right?

My daughter hasn't brushed her hair in 3 days and, honestly, I can't even tell. Does it matter?

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right?

Well this lemonade is kinda sour and that's just going to have to do.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm a bit burned out.

It's not as easy to keep a tidy house with everyone home all day. It's not easy to keep a tidy home when I'm trying to work and mind kids and keep the world still spinning when we aren't able to leave the house.

It's all a bit much.

And because my mental health is important I just can't keep the high standards I had before. They gotta come down. Will it always be like this?

No.

Nothing is ever "always" like it is now. Times change.

Soon we'll be able to leave the house. Soon the kids will go back to school. Soon I'll have normal work hours.

And then I'll bring my standards back up.

And I'm okay with that. You should be too.