(US CO/30s/Female/housewife)
In the US, the number of infected patients and fatalities caused by coronavirus were increased rapidly, and most people needed to switch to teleworking except for specific occupation. School and preschool were also closed.
Fatigued and stressed by restriction of going outside
Our family consists of four members; my husband, a daughter (six-year-old), a son (four-year-old) and myself. We are living in a one bedroom apartment in Los Angeles. Almost a month has passed since restriction of going outside had been announced. We all like the outdoors and this has been our first time to be in the house for such a long period of time.
Given such restrictions, each one of us was faced with a challenge to create a new life style in a very limited living space. Frustrations have accumulated and we were all stressed; and it was probably most difficult on the children who were having nightmares at times.
Realize and take action! The result is seeing improvements
As I read Minori no Michi that my mother had sent me from Japan, I realized the key to solving our situation was to have more conversation with my husband. I have always had good relationship with my husband and thought I understood him. But I realized that we were lacking the communication we needed to really understand each other in this difficult time.
After that, we tried to discuss everything with each other more about anything, including our ways to communicate with our children. When our feeling were calmer, children also calmed down and slept better and even started to see them smile more than before. Their remote learning has started now and they look very happy to talk with their teachers and friends virtually.
Kokoro with ease and calmness
Most grocery stores restrict to enter, and we need to wait in line to get into the store. Whenever I go shopping, I tried to contact my neighbors and ask if they need anything from the store. Then other people also started asking the same and it enables us to rely on each other. It might be a small exchange of generosity, however, it helps me a lot.
Although I live in overseas, I really appreciate as I could learn Kami’s teaching by using webcast programs, the official website, and information through emails from the church. I would like to make an effort to practice the teaching to be a Shinja who has a calm kokoro and could expand the peaceful feelings to my relations.