Nothing gets in the way of memories, not even COVID-19

Have you ever looked out your window to see one of your children riding a sheep? No? Ok, maybe things like that only happen in Christine Bevans’s yard. Back on Friday, April 17, she heard laughing and squealing coming from outside, and when she peeked out the window, she saw one of her four children going for a ride on a sheep. “My oldest, Samantha, is 17, and she has been bored at home without friends, so she went outside to see our animals.” Bevans said she was able to grab a video of the hilarity that ensued as her oldest carefully placed one of her younger brothers on a sheep. Samantha did not let go of the animal, which made it even funnier because she struggled to keep hold. “My mom-truth is that I really wanted to see a sheep go running off, and have one of the boys fall into the mud,” she laughed. It was a welcomed laugh for everyone and a great memory to have from the otherwise negative COVID-19 social isolation situation.

Before the schools closed, Samantha was attending grade 11, Walker was in kindergarten and her twins, Hunter and Ryder, were both in preschool. Now with everything flipped upside down, Samantha is taking her core courses through google classroom, and Walker works online with his classmates an hour a week while doing work at home for an hour a day. “Sam is doing well. There were rules with online schooling that did not work with our family, so we had to switch things up. Kids cannot be live online while in their rooms. They must be in a common area of the house, but with three little boys, that doesn’t work for us, so she doesn’t log on with the class.”

Instead, she does her work by correspondence and calls her teachers if she needs help. Living out of town also means that their internet connection is not the greatest, so online schooling is not always possible, but Bevans said that they are figuring things out together. “I’ve relied more on games so far to continue Walker’s reading and math.”

She said that she remembers what things were like during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. At the time, she was a preschool teacher. “I remember hearing a lot of the same things. That it was a new strain that affected the lungs and respiratory system like nothing else had before. It was on the news every day, and they said it was super dangerous and that we needed to wash our hands. But nothing closed and nothing was cancelled. I even had my gallbladder removed during it because surgeries were not cancelled. The panic wasn’t the same as today.”

Making the best of the situation is a bit easier for her troop as they have baby chicks and sheep to explore on their acreage. The children spend a lot of time outside, especially when the weather is beautiful. “They are out riding bikes, scooters and playing on our playground set. Walker’s new hobby is cutting up apples and planting the seeds all over the yard.” In the afternoon, Bevans said that the boys enjoy Facetiming their Nana in Newfoundland. “It sounds less chaotic than it is,” she laughed.

Though most plans have been understandably cancelled due to isolation measures, Bevans said that one change was completely unexpected. Her middle son, Walker, has diabetes and relies on insulin multiple times a day. For the last year, they have been on a list to receive an insulin pump which would help him control his insulin levels. He was supposed to get it on May 4. “It has now been postponed indefinitely because they can’t have us come and take a class that we need to take so that we can have the pump and supplies covered by the province.” Bevans said that he was really looking forward to the pump. “It would have improved his quality of life because he would no longer need numerous needles a day. He cries almost every time, and it’s a minimum of four a day.”

Another unfortunate hurdle is that there are rules in place at pharmacies, where patients can only buy one month’s worth of prescriptions. “It means extra dispensing fees, and when you add up all the things he needs each month, it adds almost $60 to each month, which is the cost of a vile of one type of his insulin. Over six months, that is almost an entire month of medications. I generally get six months worth at a time.”

Aside from the negatives, Bevans said that she is doing things with her children that she did not do before. “I never did crafts with the boys because that was left to the school, but now we do.” She said that her twins, Hunter and Ryder, are benefiting from their older brother Walker’s schooling because they listen to it while he does it. “It’s an opportunity that they wouldn’t normally have.” She said the time has also enriched the relationship between her children. “Samantha has more time to spend with her brothers, and they enjoy playing games and doing puzzles.”

The family recently did a hand project together (pictured) and have made hugs to send to family members they cannot see right now. “Overall, I have learned that your entire way of living can change in an instant. This experience has taught me to question things more. I was never someone who did that, but now I find myself questioning many things. I have also learned that I am truly a country person. I have gone back and forth for years on if I prefer town or country living, and now I am sure.”

She said that she hopes that when this is all over that people will worry less. “You do not have to do all the things. My oldest does not remember all the things I took her to or the activities I put her in, even though I thought it was important. Instead, she remembers the most random things.” She said people should focus on the time they have with their kids and find their version of sheep riding. “You have nowhere else to be but right where you are, so just slow down and enjoy it. It is a blessing.”