thrive33
DIARIES
AUDRA PRILUCK
PORTER RANCH, CA
6/9/20
NO. 3
PORTER RANCH, CA
What day Is It Today?
That’s the question I hear the most often in our house. We don’t have a wall calendar, so the only way to find out for sure is to ask “Alexa” or Mommy. When the “safer at home” situation started back on March 12 (that’s our “day one” because it was the first day that school was cancelled), I started recording one-minute video diaries every night of me and the boys. Some days are good, some are bad, but for the most part, the days are a blur. April 30 is day 50.
During the past several weeks, we have paid more attention to nature. The sky is clearer. The birds gather in the same spots every afternoon on our fence. The squirrels love the peanuts that we throw outside every morning. We can hear the horn of a freight train that is miles away.
The kids rarely complain. I have a “quaran-teenager” who is perfectly happy spending every waking minute in his bedroom. My 13-year-old is an incredible artist (see picture) and loves jazz. On the other hand, our 8-year-old son has lots of energy, so we have to make sure he burns it!! Typically, he rides his bike on our street or does 5 “laps” on our staircase. He wakes up early on days we can sleep in and won’t wake up when he needs to be ready for his online classrooms. Murphy’s law.

My 8-year-old celebrated his half birthday on April 11. We had make do with what we had in the house. I pulled together a dessert plate of Girl Scout Thin Mints, sliced strawberries and whipped cream. It was such a special surprise (see picture). Six months ago, we had to evacuate from our house due to the Saddleridge Fire and celebrated his 8th birthday in a hotel room. Six months later, we aren’t allowed to LEAVE our house.

There are three things we have done as a family during this strange time that I cherish:
1) Dinner around 6:30pm every night.
2) Playing Super Mario Kart and constantly losing to my 13-year-old.
3) Finishing a 1000-piece puzzle of an Italian seaside village.
My husband purchased the puzzle at the very beginning, and it took us a month to finish. All of us contributed to the puzzle. We sat at the table at different times and on different days. But when we got to the final 10-15 pieces, we were all huddled around the dining room table, together, finishing the puzzle as a family (see picture). We plan to frame it and hang it.
I miss my friends a lot. I miss my parents more. Live video is “nice” but it’s simply not the same as being in person. Sigh, the hugs we will give each other when this is all over… will be epic.
Written by Audra Priluck in Porter Ranch, CA
Past Articles


If You Haven’t Seen This, You Want To – Biden and Harris Covid-19 Memorial Ceremony
This moving memorial ceremony that honored the 400,000 Americans who have died in this crisis is the first acknowledgment from the federal government of the collective trauma the pandemic has

How Can We Help Kids With Self-Regulation?
Some kids need help learning to control their emotions, and resist impulsive behavior If you’re a parent, chances are you’ve witnessed a tantrum or two in your day. We expect

The Power of Mindfulness
How a meditation practice can help kids become less anxious, more focused By now there’s a good chance you’ve heard the term “mindfulness.” It seems to be everywhere—touted as the

Need Help Getting PPP Assistance? The MBA Response is offering Free Support for Small Businesses
The MBA Response is connecting small businesses and non-profits with MBA students to help them get pro-bono assistance in navigating the PPP funding application process. Yes, for free! Applying for

Second Draw PPP Loans Just Opened for Small Businesses – Here’s What You Need to Know
The U.S. Small Business Administration opened Second Draw PPP Loans (Paycheck Protection Program), making these forgivable loans available to first and second-time borrowers as part of the recently passed Covid-19

How Financial Coaching Can Help Worried Workers
Creating or revisiting—and committing to—a spending plan can help reduce their financial stress and empower them to navigate these challenging times with greater confidence. Finances and the economy are among