Lynn Ellingboe

Current city, state, country: Saint Paul, MN, USA

My profession: Middle School Teacher

Describe your daily routine before the pandemic and during: BEFORE: Weekdays: Rise @ 5:30 AM. Start drive to school by 6:30 AM with my cup of coffee. Arrive at school between 7:15-7:30AM. Teach 8:30-3:30. Depending on school schedule and work could be there till 5:00 or so, then on the way home. Dinner with my husband in the evening and often school work to be done. Weekends: Catch up on house/yard chores. Usually attend church service on Sunday mornings. The weekend always includes leisurely breakfasts and dinners at home with my husband, but usually also included dinners with friends or family, sometimes at a restaurant, but more often at one of our homes. DURING: No alarm goes off in the mornings. Almost daily walks with husband around lakes and near by trails. Maple sap is running, and syrup is being made from our Maple trees – an every year tradition my husband carries on. Spring is arriving in MN. Almost daily phone calls with our daughters. School has been on Spring Break, but I have been taking on line webinars to navigate online/remote learning as our school gets ready to reopen remotely on Monday 3/30. Over the last week we are engaging in more zoom and google chat gatherings with friends and family.

This pandemic makes me feel like: We need to take action and change the way our country handles and finances (or not) healthcare, education, worker rights & benefits.

This pandemic makes me think: About what is really important in my life, and if my current life reflects what I hold as necessary and dear.

This pandemic makes me hope/pray for: Effective government leaders who can successfully navigate the world through this pandemic and all its challenges, and who will have the vision to act on what we learned during it and oversee a plan for the future.

Wise medical and scientific professionals who can care for those affected by the virus, and other illnesses, as well as search for and discover a cure to eventually end this pandemic. Health and well-being for those I love and hold dear, as well as all human beings in our world. The strength, calm, wisdom and courage to move forward one day at a time.

What I think of the federal government’s response: The MN State government response has been impressive from our governor and the state health department. The federal government response is sorely lacking in leadership, vision and implementation.

If I had Three Wishes: Thinking about it, my three wishes would be them same as my three hopes/prayers from the question above: 1)Effective government leaders who can successfully navigate the world through this pandemic and all its challenges, and who will have the vision to act on what we learned during it and oversee a plan for the future. 2)Wise medical and scientific professionals who can care for those affected by the virus, and other illnesses, as well as search for and discover a cure to eventually end this pandemic. 3) Health and well-being for those I love and hold dear, as well as all human beings in our world.

Before this pandemic, my plans for the next 6 months were: Spring trips to the western US to see daughters, attend our youngest daughter's senior voice recital at her college and also to attend her college graduation in May, when the entire family planned to gather in Washington. Teach the remaining quarter of the 2019-20 school year in school as usual. Enjoy time with family, friends and work colleagues in Minnesota. Work on home and yard tasks typical in the spring & summer including painting, gardening and cleaning. Help/support daughters and husbands planned moves to Minnesota. Enjoy the summer break from school and prepare for the 2020-21 school year.

What I have in my fridge/freezer and pantry: Coffee, wine, baking ingredients, pastas, cheese, maple syrup, cookbooks

Ways I’m coping: Trying to be present in the moment, daily walks & good meals with my husband, being outside and working on our land, reading, doing puzzles, playing games, remote chats with family & friends, staying tuned into the news but not excessively, trying to stay positive & hopeful.

Creative things to do with kids: Inside: puzzles, card games, board games, fashion shows with items from other family member's closets, Charades, tell stories including memories or theme led such as "most embarrassing moment, put on a play, read a book out loud as a family, clay art, draw and/or paint pictures, verbal brain games like Seven-Up or alphabet memory games, sing together.

Outside: various tag games, bean bag toss, hide & seek, gardening, chalk drawings, nature hikes, neighborhood walks.

General advice/thoughts/anxieties to share with others: My only advise is what I am trying to do myself - stay positive and in the moment by noticing and appreciating the small things - that first taste from a warm cup of coffee in the morning or sip of wine at night, the smile on a beloved's face, a bird's song, green plants beginning to thrust themselves out of the soil, the smell of dinner, an email, text or phone call from a friend or family member, as well as being open to the joys that come with listening to music, reading a good book, having a conversation, sharing a meal. Just noticing and trying to be present and thankful for what each day holds.