HOW DO WE MANAGE IN THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES?
It is crazy to think how much our world has changed in the past few weeks, both personally and professionally. As a lawyer I always look to precedent to evaluate and try to predict what is going to happen in the future. Unfortunately, there is no precedent for our current plight. Our parents have never encountered a situation like this, and our grandparents have never faced a situation like this. This uncertainty has led me through a range of emotions including fear, anxiety, depression, sadness, and anger.
My world like many others has been turned on its head. My wife and I are the proud parents of two children in elementary school in addition to both being attorneys who practice litigation. My firm switched to remote working and my wife’s law firm quickly followed suit. We then suspected that schools would be closing. When we first learned that the schools were closing, we felt overwhelmed. How were we to supervise, replace our schools, and teach our children while maintaining an active caseload and helping the clients who put their trust in us?
We didn’t panic. My wife and I sat down one evening, discussed our work schedules and created a list of what needed to be done and when it needed to be done. We then compared our list to our children’s school syllabus. We then sacrificed and created a master schedule breaking up our time who would be able to work while the other would teach our children. The sacrifice was realizing that to make this work we needed arrange our work schedules to include early mornings before the kids woke up and late nights after the kids went to bed.
We discussed this chaotic schedule at length, but this is what is necessary. Moreover, it is our moral responsibility as parents and lawyers. This is needed to protect our loved ones and other vulnerable members of the community.
To cope with these precarious times, I believe we need to focus on positivity and optimism, while continuing to be smart and protect ourselves and our families. My wife and I are the lucky ones. We are healthy. Our family is healthy. We still have work while many others find themselves unemployed. As difficult as these times have been, I’ve unplugged from my phone and committed myself to being present with my children and my wife. I’ve offered to drop off food for people that have been quarantined.
I would urge you to do the same. Be the beacon of positivity. Make the most during these trying times. If you know a person that need helps, do what you can. Whatever your situation is, know that you are not alone. There are millions around the country similarly struggling. Know that we will get through these difficult times together. We will endure. And we will persevere.