Like everyone else, the last few days and weeks have been at times overwhelming, confusing and worrying.

As a mom, I worry about my kids staying healthy — especially having a son who could be considered immunocompromised. I worry about the two of them maintaining some sense of routine, education and social time. I worry about them worrying. Explaining a global pandemic to a 7-year-old and 9-year-old is tricky to say the least.

As a business owner, I worry about my business. I worry about my clients and their families and the upcoming special events I’m so excited to cover. I worry about whether I’ll see fewer photo sessions this Spring — or this year. I worry about nearly every business decision I’ve made so far in this high-alert time — including not to currently photograph any in-home photo sessions. I also struggle with how best to support my other friends who are small business owners and entrepreneurs.

But, at least in these first very early days of what could be a long time self-distancing and monitoring the Coronavirus, I’m learning some really beautiful things.

Here are five things I’ve noticed so far.

1. People supporting people is happening everywhere. It’s always said that in the hardest times, you see the best helpers.

I’ve loved watching this happen. I’ve seen neighbors offering to help elderly neighbors with groceries and working parents with babysitting children. I’ve seen people buy gift cards from local businesses just to help them with income during uncertain times. People are dropping off surprises — books, food, even toilet paper, haha! — on friends’ doorsteps. Extra hand sanitizer is being shared. There is good happening.

2. Sunshine is a terrific healer.

We’re so fortunate here in Maryland at least, that our quarantine and time off of school is happening at the beginning of a beautiful Spring. These first few days have had mostly sunshine and mild temperatures and we have spent the majority of these days outside. My kids have been exploring the neighborhood (thanks to walkie-talkies so I can communicate with them!) for hours at a time. My husband and I have gotten so many yard and garden to-do list items done already. It’s almost garden and planting time here so I’m watching seeds sprout and planning where to plant herbs and veggies and flowers. I’ve been on a hike with friends and I plan on walking around with my camera to enjoy some more sunshiney days in a creative way. All of these things bring Vitamin D and adventure and movement and there are few things as good as that combo.

3. We’re given a temporary reprieve from so many distractions.

Usually, my phone is blowing up and my computer is dinging during my workdays with notifications galore. And, usually, I race to answer them during my work hours. I expect the notifications to slow down a bit during these next few weeks; and, even if they don’t slow down, my response to them will (and must).

This is a beautiful thing.

It’s allowing me more time with my family. It’s allowing me the immense privilege that is delegation and time management. 

4. Our family will come out of this closer.

Recently, I’ve felt that gnawing awareness on the fact that in only 10 summers, the baby of our family will be done with high school and moving on to her next step, whatever that may be. Before that, she’ll be filling her days and nights with friends and maybe even her first significant other. She’ll have sports or clubs or activities. And all of that means less time as our little family unit of four. Moments like this (er, weeks/months) give us the extra bit of closeness and together time that I know I’ll crave when my kids are older.

We’re doing so much together — house projects, outside time, walks and adventures, homework, board games, so many meals.

And we’re also observing the kiddos and watching how they are as little humans even when they don’t realize we’re watching. Seeing them for so many hours with friends (at a safe distance) or on their own is precious. I love giving them this extra freedom, too, to fill in hours and create adventures.

5. I will make mistakes and hard decisions.

Before you think that I’ve got this interesting period in our lives all figured out, don’t worry, I am well aware that this could get really, really difficult. I’m going to lose patience, lose sleep, sleep too much, work too little, work too much, wish for more “me time”, feel selfish after my Me Time and then wake up and fail a little bit the next day.

I’m going to make hard decisions for the good of not just my family but for a much, much bigger group of people. Decisions like asking one of my good friends and my morning workout partner not to come over to my home gym. Decisions like hard and fast playtime rules — no inside our house or others’ homes.

But the thing is, I’m going to simply do one day at a time and give each of those days my very best effort. And you will, too.

Hang in there, check on neighbors and friends and loved ones and do some kindnesses in these days and weeks.