Day 18: What do you mean, you’re in a meeting?
A couple of times this week, I’ve been in teleconference and videoconference meetings for various reasons, and it’s a concept poor Hannah just can’t seem to grasp.
She sees the faces or icons on my screen, but with my headphones in she can’t hear the voices and doesn’t quite understand that I’m actually part of what’s happening on the computer. Normally we are passive participants in what we watch, not actively engaged.
Thankfully, most of the world is in the same boat as we are – so when I’m trying to have a meeting over the phone or video chat, or doing an interview on speakerphone and my children forget themselves for a minute, I’m met with a lot of understanding.
This morning, this led to a few laughs when the 10 a.m. alarm indicated it was time for outdoor play or exercise, but with the cold weather Christian and Hannah went for Wii Fit, and were present in the background of my videoconference running on the spot, boxing and hula-hooping.
The mute button on these apps is a godsend.
Many times during my meetings I’ve had to block out the sound from my end because, well, children are loud. In fact, I run on mute most of the time and turn on my sound only when necessary, because I just never know.
I could be helping a five-year-old learn how to print the letter Q, or telling a 13-year-old boy how to make cream cheese icing for the cake he made, or reminding the teenagers to get to work. Or asking one of the aforementioned children to refill my coffee.
So far, I haven’t forgotten to mute myself yet. I’m waiting for that – the time my sound is on when I call out something about flushing a toilet or cleaning up a mess or, for the love of God, stop arguing.
Speaking of fighting, there has been remarkably little of that these past 18 days, and I consider that the biggest win of all. Ordinarily, in one evening I will have broken up six or eight throw-downs and I don’t even want to count the number of shouting matches and slammed doors on the weekends. These days it’s usually a faltering attempt at outrage, usually some mild form of frustration or annoyance (remember Hannah the mosquito from last week? She’s back) rather than an outright brawl.
But as Alyssa astutely pointed out: “Have you noticed we don’t really fight anymore? It’s like when we’re forced to be together and don’t have a choice we get along.”
Hey, I’ll take it. I just hope they’re not saving it all up for when this is all over.
Maybe they’ll last for at least this weekend, because we all need to enjoy it. After working last weekend I’m taking a much-needed three-day break and since the kids all worked so hard these past four days to complete all their schoolwork before Friday, they’re taking the day off, too.
I’m looking forward to a quiet morning and spending time with all five of my monkeys without work and school on the agenda. They’re looking forward to sleeping in.
Sounds like they’ve got a video game marathon planned, maybe some cards or board games. Mindless fun, likely in pajamas.
It’s funny how, even though we spend every day – all day – together, it’s not really the quality family time we’re craving.
Let’s hope this weekend brings peace and quiet, tons of fun, and a whole lot of love and laughter.
Krista Conrad, OkotoksToday.ca
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