DaddyHealy on the Job

Job security is a good thing.  DaddyHealy’s job has been deemed an essential business, critical to sustaining the food chain.  So, even though our state remains under strict stay at home orders, the company is plugging along, even if it is not business as usual.  The factory is operating, new product development is on-going, and DaddyHealy is as busy as ever, if not more so.  

Although the  factory and offices are open and allowed to operate, employees who can work from home are encouraged to do so.  So, back at the beginning of April, we sorted out the best place for a “home office,” as any office-type room in our house has long ago been converted to a bedroom.  

Choosing the right spot was more complicated than I imagined.  Since there are 6 other Healys spending literally every hour of every day in this house, we had to consider nap times, school schedules, play time, noise levels, wi-fi strength, and more.  The master bedroom won out and is currently doubling as home office.  In a short afternoon we relocated furniture, pulled together supplies and created a work space that has been DaddyHealy’s primary space for the last 5 weeks.

Granted, I am not the one who has to work here, but I have to say, it has been nice having DaddyHealy at home all day, even if behind a closed door.   In the morning he gets ready and dresses in his work clothes, puts on his badge, packs his cooler with drinks and snacks, makes his coffee in his travel mug, and takes the short walk to the “office.”  Sometimes we share breakfast before the kids are up.  When he takes a break mid-morning and comes out for a quick hello, he is attacked by little girls looking for their morning hug.  I love that this is the new routine.

He has only needed to go into the office around once a week, so we get to eat lunch together almost every day.  After lunch, he clips his badge back on, (joking he wont be able to get back into the “office” without it) and makes the short commute down the hall back to his office.

I roll up a towel at the bottom of the door each morning to cut down on the noise, and it must be working.  Although we have school at home noise, live streaming lessons and piano classes, flute practice, sibling bickering, kids’ zoom meetings and the usual chaos that is home life with 5 kids, he hasn’t left running back to the office so he can concentrate.  He’s actually told me he hears me shushing the little Healys more than he hears the kids’ noises.  Oh.

So for now, we are 7 Healys doing what we do here on the Big River.  More than ever, we are learning to be considerate of each other.  Yes, we are rearranging our schedules and belongings a bit to make it all work.  But isn’t this a nice, intimate reminder of serving one another on the most basic, familial level? Today we are choosing to show our love for DaddyHealy by using our quiet voices so he can take care of us by doing his job at home, a place where we can all be safe and happy together.