Would You Rather

Would you rather have x-ray vision or be able to fly?

Would you rather have four legs or five arms?

Would you rather kiss a frog or hug a lizard?

Would you rather eat a whole raw onion or a whole lemon?

This Would You Rather game is in regular rotation around our house. It’s incredibly popular with the 10 year olds, especially if the choice involves choosing between two disgusting things. 

I played it the other night with Gabe and it made me think how this whole Covid-19-stay-home- shut-down, business has been like one giant WOULD YOU RATHER game.

Would you rather set screen time limits or actually get some freaking work done?

Would you rather cook dinner for the 23rd time in a row or put cereal boxes on the table?

Would you rather settle a fight or clean up a split lip later?

Would you rather sneak into your closet or into the basement for a moment of quiet and privacy?

One screen and no one is fighting. It’s a Shut In Miracle.

Months into this worldwide pandemic, we have faced some things and made some decisions I didn’t think we would ever have to make and adjust our daily lives in ways I never would have imagined.

I cringe sometimes at the amount of time my kids have spent on screens on some days. Or at how late they have gone to bed. Or how an entire day passes (or two) and I’m not sure if anyone brushed their teeth? It’s the wild west around here some days. 

But then I remember we are also playing Would You Rather in other ways too. 

Would you rather spend all this extra free time with your kids or coordinate getting everyone to 8 different activities AND you can’t be at all of them?

Would you rather have late evenings of playing games together or miss saying goodnight to Spencer because you were at a game or recital or practice?

Honey the dog is not sad about the disruption of schedules. Lots of cuddles for this girl.

Of course, like everyone else, I am hoping we are on some kind of downhill and we will be able to hug and gather again. In the meantime, I remember how fortunate we have been. Our job security has not been affected. We have access to the technology we need for my kids to stay in school. Our ability to pay bills has not been affected. Our loved ones have remained healthy.

I want to say these things out loud and repeat them, because outside of our little bubble of being in each other’s faces and having no privacy or alone time, there is real suffering because of this. I know people personally who have lost jobs and have lost loved ones as a direct result of the virus and I remember a different kind of Would You Rather.

Would you rather stay home and go insane or also stay home and be grateful you’re safe?

Our house is nutso. My kids are loud. They drive me up a wall on a daily basis. As I write this, my boys are on the trampoline screaming at the top of their lungs a pretend line up to the Chicago Bulls music that involves lots of words we put under the net of “inappropriate” at our house.

“At power forward, standing at 8 feet, Mr. Poopy Pants Farting Man!” I mean, yelling. So loud. (Sorry neighbors. Would you rather listen to them yell potty language or yell at each other in anger?)

I miss my friends and taking my kids to games and practices. But we are healthy, connected and well, and in this climate of fear and worry, I would rather be that than anything else.  (But also, please bless we will be done with this soooon.)