Why Can't I Read?!!

It's day 17 of staying at home. I think. Maybe 18? I've lost count!

I have two young kids, so I don't really have time to be bored. But I am definitely listless. I have no attention span. Every time I sit down to read, my mind goes racing and I end up reading the news on my phone.

I'm guessing I'm not the only one?

I have managed to finish a few books, but they are all graphic novels written for middle school students. The main motivation for finishing these books has been my 7-year-old's begging to read them--so obviously, I have to preview them to make sure they're appropriate. (She's an advanced reader, but honestly I don't think she understands half of what she's reading. She's just obsessed with middle schoolers--like OMG they are so cool.)

I would love to get engrossed in a good book right now, but either I don't have the right material on hand or maybe my brain is just not capable. And e-books are not going to get the job done. As a school librarian during a pandemic, I am definitely pushing e-books and audio books on my students, but I myself cannot stand them.

It's not just reading, though. There are a million projects around the house I could do. I could exercise for an hour--or more-- every day. But, like millions of people around the world, I just want to eat snacks and watch TV. The pandemic told us to hibernate and that's what we want to do!

Some days are better than others. Today I got up and got ready for work. I've been more productive than usual working at the computer while my husband "homeschools" downstairs. The sun is shining and we'll probably play in the yard this afternoon.

But next time it rains...I'm watching Tiger King!

Pandemic Work from Home Day #1

I always had the feeling that a time would come when I would live through a dystopian novel. I didn't think it would happen this way or this soon in my life; I supposed I thought it would be much, much worse.

Many people's lives are in turmoil, so I am grateful that I am only inconvenienced by the COVID-19 disruption. My kitchen is well-stocked, my heat bill is paid, my children and I have all the resources we need to "homeschool" and work from home. My husband's business is taking a big hit, but he'll weather the storm and be fine in the end.

While it can feel like this period of isolation will never end, the curse is also the gift. We have so much TIME now!

• Time to work on this blog! This is my first post in over a year! I absolutely love learning about what other school librarians are doing, so I do believe that putting my own ideas, successes, and failures out into the world is a good thing to do.
• Time for my family to slow down. We were stuck in that rush of school-activities-dinner-bedtime and endless obligations on the weekend. It's nice just to relax and hang out with each other!
• Time to cook. We are spending less money because we aren't eating out, and we are eating healthier foods at home. My kids and I love to bake, so I hope we can try out some new recipes in the weeks to come.
• Time to read and do professional development: While I am expected to work from home, and I intend to spend most of my time assisting teachers and students virtually, I also think I'll likely have more time for professional development to fill the hours. Under normal circumstances, it can be hard to find time to do webinars or read School Library Journal, let alone an actual book!

So now that we've made lemonade, let's talk about lemons!

I love good dystopian novels because I feel like each one has that kernel of truth that makes you go, "wow, that could happen!" Usually, things also feel just a little far-fetched, so you feel safe from what's happening in the story. However, I do think reading this kind of literature has made me a little cynical and afraid of what the current pandemic could lead to.  For example,

• In The Handmaid's Tale, women lose their rights due to a mysterious drop in birthrates around the world. Could the closure of schools lead to a similar fate, with men in power insisting that mothers must now stay home to take care of children and give their jobs to men?
• In The Hunger Games, we see a rich Capitol City hoarding resources while citizens in the "districts" toil and starve. Could a lack of medical supplies and other basic needs lead to this kind of drastic inequality?
• In 1984, surveillance of citizens is nearly constant, and dissent is not tolerated. In China, we have seen how their strict lockdown measures have had a positive effect on COVID-19 infections. Could this lead to similar actions taken around the world?

Ultimately, I don't believe that COVID-19 will be the end of humanity. In fact, I've seen a lot of generosity, kindness, and hope being spread across online platforms in a way that warms my heart. I do believe that we need to read these books, and have these conversations, because if we don't explore the darkness, we can't celebrate the light.