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Family time is the greatest – also during quarantine

Family time is the greatest – also during quarantine

It’s unbelievable how you feel when you see your own child with your parents or your siblings.
Since our son was born in April 2016 we drove more often than ever before to my parents. Family time for all of us.
When I grew up I had my grandparents close by, from moms side direct next to us and from dads side a ten minutes walk away.
Now we are in Munich and we have 550 kilometres between us.
Family is so important and our son should feel the same about his family as we did when we were little.

At the moment we have more family time than ever before due to the quarantine, unfortunately just the three of us as we obviously are at home. But even this time will once be a memory and we should take it as a gift. Who has throughout the normal day-to-day schedules such an intense time with the family?

Surely, I would lie if it’s all joy and fun and laughter, we are stressed, we reach limits, we would love to stay in bed a whole day but with a 4-year old this is unimaginable. We are human beings, we cannot handle everything, we need to adapt, learn, fall, stand up again and try.

Now we are patiently (most of the time) waiting for news which enable us to visit my parents, at least some contact to family, we start to be tired of phone calls and facetime, but at the end of the day I need to remind myself that it’s fine. All is fine and we are here and healthy and very fortunate.

There are thousands of facebook groups where I read the most weird theories about this pandemic, where parents complain that their children will be traumatized once all of this is over, where people are seriously thinking we all will be vaccinated against our will, …

There are days where I cannot take it all in anymore, where I just scroll further, tired of so much nonsense. Then there are days where I start to argue, trying to explain that I see it differently, trying to explain why it is nonsense what some are posting but it is like talking to walls. And then I wonder, where are their families? Are they all thinking so weird?

One really important part I love about family time – the exchange, the discussion, the pure honesty. If I talk bullshit tis is exactly what I get to hear. Everything is discussed and at the end of the day we are all (for the main topics) thinking at least in the same direction and if anyone of us would now start to explain that tomorrow someone will start to vaccinate all people born on November, 12th, because this is how Bill Gates wrote it in his secret diary I am 100% sure we would be able to turn this person into the right direction – with facts!

Family time during quarantine is different, yes, but it is also a big chance to build some memories. We can spend so much time together to do things we normally don’t do. Spending hours in nature to stare at the clouds, to watch snails climbing up a small tree (normally nobody has the patience anymore to sit and wait until she reaches the top), being just us without pressure and without someone running after us to do this and that until yesterday if possible.

I know that these times are scary as well, believe me, and if I focus on the good I don’t neglect the bad which is of course there as well. Some days I feel the panic bubbling in me and anxiety which stops me from everything other than laying down and let it pass. BUT, and I extra write it in capital bold letters, I don’t want to let the negative outweigh the positive. To focus on the good is healthier than focussing on the bad. Do you know the law of attraction? This is one of the lessons, you attract what you think and as I don’t want any of these negative stories in my life I acknowledge their presence, I’m sorry for the people who were hit so hard already, I try to help where I can (like supporting locals for instance) and then I let the negative pass my life and focus on the good.

How are you living the quarantine? Are you depressed, do you see it as a chance, tell me how the quarantine life is for you.

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30 Days of Gratitude

30 Days of Gratitude

Day 1 – What kind of food are you most grateful for?

So many to be honest but if you ask me to break it down to one then (as a German) I would say dark bread. Fresh still warm dark bread with just butter is so simple yet delicious.

Day 2 – Who in your life are you grateful for?

My family and that includes literally all of them – every single one has a Special place in my heart and taught me something, teaches me something, makes me feel loved and enough the way I am – they Show me my best and my worst sides and with them I can be just me.

Day 3 – What recent moment are you grateful for?

These mornings when the first I see when opening my eyes is the smile on my son’s face.

Day 4 – Which skill are you grateful for?

Being empathic is one which is I guess more worth than being a good writer or cook. Showing emotions, listening to others, feeling their pain up to a certain level makes life more meaningful. But of course, I do not want to miss a good homemade lunch as well 🙂

Day 5 – What about your body are you especially grateful for?

Being alive and healthy – if you are alive your body is doing a tremendous job, I try to treat my body well and of course there are pizza-days and chocolate but in general I see it as my duty to treat my Body as my temple, because without it I would not be here.

Day 6 – What technology are you grateful for?

The world wide web – this is amazing how we can connect across the globe and if we use it mindfully the Internet is one of the greatest technologies ever.

Day 7 – What smell are you grateful for?

The scent of my new-born son. The most wonderful smell on earth.

Day 8 – What sights are you thankful for?

Right now, in a corona quarantine situation all sights I have ever seen. Memories of former vacations are so precious.

Day 9 – What books are you grateful for?

My all-time favourite because it opened my eyes during a difficult time is “Eat, pray, love” from Elizabeth Gilbert. Each time I touch it I still find something new and valuable for me.

My favorite books – Eat, Pray, Love
  • Day 10 – What tradition are you grateful for?

The traditions I grew up with and am now able to show to my son, like Christmas cookie baking, painting Easter eggs, simple things which are lovely memories of my childhood for me and I hope my son can one day say the same.

  • Day 11 – What colours are you grateful for?

All available colours – without all of them life would be dark and sad.

  • Day 12 – Be grateful for your senses. Name what makes you grateful for each.

Touch / Feeling is the most important, without I would not know how soft baby skin is.

Sight to discover the beauty of this planet.

Hearing – the birds singing in the morning is music to wake up to.

Taste and smell are both amazing – the smell of freshly cut grass gives me a full summer feeling and the taste of so many things would be a real lack in life. Salty water, snowflakes in winter, the orange peel with his bitter-sweet taste.

Balance is a great sense in life and a great reminder of this question is that I need to focus more on balance in my life.

Body awareness is the last I guess and should be one of the first to be grateful for. Feeling good in your own body is the first step to a healthy self-acceptance.

  • Day 13 – What season are you grateful for and why?

Summer / late summer is my favourite season. These long evenings and nights where all seem to be possible. I cannot stand the cold even though I love some snowy days, but summer is the right feel-good temperature for me.

  • Day 14 – What challenge did you overcome?

There were some challenges and obstacles in life as for everyone – did I overcome them? Maybe. I think most I took as lessons learned not to step into them unprepared if they show up the next time. Life is a flow and maybe some parts of them swim next to me occasionally but most of the days I keep them behind me and remember how to treat them if they speed up.

  • Day 15 – What sound are you grateful for?

My son’s heartbeat – the sweetest sound I heard before I even knew he is a boy.

  • Day 16 – What places you are grateful for?

All the places I travelled so far – it is amazing to discover the world and every single place has left an imprint on my life.

  • Day 17 – What in nature are you grateful for?

What in nature am I not grateful for?

  • Day 18 – What invention are you grateful for?

Technology – especially now during this pandemic we can be incredibly grateful to stay in contact with family and friends on a distance.

  • Day 19 – What knowledge are you grateful for?

Everything has its time – even though I would love to stop the time sometimes to stay longer in wonderful moments, this knowledge is immensely helpful in times where I don’t feel well, as this will pass too.

  • Day 20 – What role model that you had are you grateful for?

My parents – and they still are!

  • Day 21 – What are you grateful for TODAY?

The laughter of my son and my husband in the background while I am typing here.

  • Day 22 – What attribute of yourself are you grateful for?

Being able to be weak and surrender to what is, nobody can be strong all the time.

  • Day 23 – What change are you grateful for?

The change which came with motherhood, being a mom is wonderful.

Crafted by magic
  • Day 24 – What part of the day are you grateful for?

I love the night when everything is still, but I also like long summer evenings.

  • Day 25 – Which character trait of yourself are you grateful for?

Being authentic is I guess the most important. You may not be friends with everyone but at the end of the day I stay true to myself.

  • Day 26 – What voyage are you grateful for?

Oh so many, our Tuscany trip when I was pregnant, our Cyprus trip which was the first vacation together, the first family holiday when our son saw the sea for the very first time, the clear blue water of the Caribbean on the Turks and Caicos Islands, I could start to list all now.

Pregnant through the Tuscany – part I
  • Day 27 – What quote makes you grateful because it inspires you?

What goes around comes around.

  • Day 28 – What things in your day-to-day life are you thankful for?

No things but the persons, my two men!

  • Day 29 – What talent are you thankful for?

To write and be somehow creative.

  • Day 30 – What blessings are you grateful for?

We are alive, we are all healthy, that is such a huge blessing already!

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Week 10 of quarantine and night of destiny in Ramadan

Wow, we made it already to week 10 of this crazy corona quarantine and more than 3 weeks now additionally with a fasting husband at home.

If you ask me how I feel – a mixture of insanity, being tired, running out of ideas for our son, trying to move forward with my yoga teacher training, keeping the mood bearable, when will this be over???

As I know my husband since 2011 we are I guess one of the lucky couples who knew each other already well enough to “survive” a lock-down and a quarantine with no real end in sight (why has this virus to be so greedy – it’s enough little covid, time for you to disappear, please!).

As parents we were put into the situation to be…yeah, to be parents still, right? I need to admit that we are currently in the very fortunate situation to be at home, so no worry about how to get work done while having to take care of our son, this helps immensely and I remember my home office days with him around me too – if you are able to complete 50% of your tasks with your child at home then kudos (it’s like reaching level 200 in Super Mario I guess). I can’t say thanks often enough for platforms like pinterest to give us idea 196 for DIY projects with a 4 year old but also need to mention one book which gave us lots of inspiration and great times already.

Recommended so much (and no cooperation or link where I earn something) – I bought it just because I discovered Laura Brand on Instagram and her ideas are indeed magical!

I’m not lying – there are days where I want to hide under the blanket the whole day watching nonsense on Netflix uninterrupted because I cannot face this world anymore. But then a little hand reaches out to me and I know I cannot. These times are scary and uncertain but my fear is nothing to teach my son – his childhood lays on us and we are the ones to build memories for him. I want him to remember this as a very intense family time, a time we spent happily together, walking through the forest, discovering snails, searching for flat stones to draw on at home. This is our destiny, isn’t it? So we have to make the best out of it!

And writing about destiny – today is day 71 of our quarantine and tonight is the night of destiny in Ramadan. My husband told me last night and shame on me, he tells me each year the meaning but I often forget the whole story behind. As a short explanation:

Allah the Almighty states in the Holy Koran: “Surely, we sent it [the Koran] on the Night of Destiny. And what should make thee know what the Night of Destiny is? The Night of Destiny is better than a thousand months. Therein descend angels and the Spirit by the command of their Lord with their Lord’s decree concerning everything. Peace — so will it be even at the rising of the dawn.” (Surah al-Qadr, Ch 97: V 1-6)

So tonight will be the night of great blessings where god (Allah the Almighty) showers his mercy upon faithful believers. In the Koran it’s said the revelation of the Koran began on this very night. Especially in its last ten days there has been the a showering of blessings and mercy in the month of Ramadan.

If you want to read more in depths you can visit this site:

The Night of Destiny

When you know my blog you know that my husband is muslim whereas I am not – we live very well with these different beliefs but of course we discuss lots. But what we also do, and that’s I guess is the most important, we support each other in what we do. So when he is fasting during the month of Ramadan I adapt (not always to his mood 🙂 but to the schedule) and I like some of the rituals. We should spend a peaceful night tonight and there’s nothing wrong with that. Maybe there are angles, a spirit, a higher force – I am not the one who judges that. Especially when you raise a child together you need to treat each other with full respect and that’s what we do.

As yogi I believe more in destiny in general – not linked to a certain religion. There surely are shifts and I very often use the sentence “it was meant to be” and that’s what I belive in. The choices we make are made for reasons and they guide us to where we should be. If it turned out to be a direction we don’t feel fine in then we take it as a lesson learned and move on.

This is also the way from my perspective to treat this quarantine. Of course I made plans in the beginning (10 weeks ago), we can do so many great things as a family together. And of course this didn’t work out. There were days where I was struggling so so much with anxiety and panic, there were days where our mood was only enough to stare at the TV in disbelief of what’s going on, there were days where we stayed in our PJs from dusk till dawn and that’s OK. If it already taught me one thing than to let go. Letting go of trying to be strong when I feel weak – both are vaild and both are essential in life. Only when you know how it feels to be weak you can be strong.

Tell me, how do you experience this quarantine? I’d love to hear stories from around the globe because one thing is for sure:

We are all in this together!

Stay safe and healty