Home as shelter suddenly has a whole new meaning. It feels more important than ever these days to love your home. As we all spend time indoors with our families, practicing social distancing and doing our part to slow the spread of the coronavirus, we’re redefining the pleasures of our personal sanctuaries. We’re connecting with the people we live with in more profound ways and staying in touch with those we can’t see in person via Skype or Facetime.
We’re living life more mindfully and intentionally. Maybe it’s animated conversation around the dinner table, getting into the routine of a solo home workout or initiating cul-de-sac exercise sessions with each neighbor in their own driveway. It could be deep-cleaning kitchen cabinets or purging closets, finishing that home organization project you started months ago, or diving into a movie or book or planning a Netflix binge.
If you’ve never worked from home, you might be establishing your individual remote style in an office you put together on the fly and doing Zoom conferences with your team. And with schools physically closed, helping kids optimize online learning might also be a good lesson in patience and persistence for mom and dad. Most of us have wished for more time at home to get things done or just relax. Now that life outside the home is temporarily disrupted, consider using this break from typical daily schedules to do things that give you a sense of accomplishment, renewal and gratitude.
Don’t forget to create new memories, too. After all, they’re the heart of the home.
Keep it fun: arts and crafts night, backyard fun, family book club
Appoint different family members to create a special activity everyone can enjoy. Think arts and crafts with found objects (rock painting, anyone?), bird watching or star gazing, s’mores-making class around the firepit or starting a family book club (now’s the time to discover the Johnson County Library’s robust eLibrary that offer books, audiobooks, music, magazines and more at jocolibrary.org). Embrace this unique opportunity to initiate new family traditions that will enrich life at home.
Livestream an area attraction
Gather the whole family (and don’t forget the popcorn!) to get up close and personal with some of the Kansas City Zoo’s most beloved inhabitants, like the penguins and giraffes, who now have their very own 24/7 live cams (kansascityzoo.org). Or spend a couple of hours virtually exploring the fascinating collections housed at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (toyandminiaturemuseum.org) or brush up on history by visiting online exhibits of the acclaimed National WWI Museum and Memorial (theworldwar.org). Getting a dose of culture while you stay at home has never been easier with The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s virtual tour of the Queen Nefertari: Eternal Egypt exhibition (nelson-atkins.org). #MuseumfromHome with one of the world’s prestigious art museums while Nelson-Atkins Director Julián Zugazagoitia takes you on an armchair tour of Ancient Egypt. Try out Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art’s Virtual Playdates for artfully fun projects (kemperart.org).
Take an online cooking class
Maybe you’ve joined the cook-from-your-pantry craze and need culinary inspiration for comforting family meals or just want to improve your kitchen skills. The Culinary Center of Kansas City, based in Overland Park, has always been a delicious resource for novice and avid home chefs of all ages and now offers online classes ranging from sheet pan dinner prep to cookie decorating. Visit kcculinary.com for a complete listing of virtual classes, costs and wait lists. Olive Tree, an Overland Park purveyor of extra-virgin, infused and flavored olive oils, aged balsamic vinegars and artisan foods, is also transitioning some of their popular in-store cooking sessions to online (olivetreekc.com).
Support the community
Only essential businesses are open right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t support the community where you live, work and play. Take a night off from cooking and order curbside takeout or have dinner delivered from your favorite locally owned restaurant. Visit curbsidekc.com for an exhaustive listing of restaurants all over the metro that have shifted their dine-in to takeout concepts, with lots of innovative options. Send a chocolate care package to a loved one from Kansas City’s iconic Andre’s (andreschocolates.com) or purchase a gift card from your favorite locally owned boutique for future retail therapy. Have the whole family pitch in to purchase a gift card from a favorite local establishment and donate it to your school’s fund-raising auction or another community organization.
Stay safe. Stay healthy. Take a virtual tour from home
Our model homes are temporarily closed but available on an appointment-only basis. Contact the onsite community manager to schedule your private showing. You can still get inspired by visiting Rodrock communities, exploring floor plans and current design trends, available inventory and where we build without leaving your home. We’re open 24/7 online at RodrockHomes.com with our Virtual 3D Tours. Right now, discovering where you want to be has never been easier.
