This message was sent to my co-workers outside of my office who I interact with every day. I need their help to be successful.

All:

This year we have seen such a challenge within the IT field. Each one of you, all of us, worked very hard to keep the entire agency going, this was no easy task. We relied on each other tremendously. We needed each other for more than just the systems we support but to help work through the entire workforce coming at us from every side as we transitioned to remote working. Not only did we do that, and very successful I might add, but we did it while being fearful of the unknown. We had to come in to facilities that were recently shut down due to COVID. Some of you on this list are probably in the facility right now, I commend you. I commend each one of you for the hard work you did and continue to do.

Yes we continue to have challenges; but I have no doubt that we will see each other through all of them as we have these last several months. Thank you for being there for me, I know I ask a lot, and you have always delivered.

All I am asking as a favor, think of it as a Christmas gift to me, is that you take time for yourself. A day, a week, or just a weekend, and reflect on the successes. Drown out the fear of failure, the concern of the dropped balls or missed meetings, by focusing on what you accomplished this year. While you are home, step away from the work often and look outside; no, go outside and separate yourself from the demand to always be there and to always be available. Learn to turn off the work day and transition to non-work just like you used to do before March. Put down the work, it will be there later.

Fight the loneliness of being alone this season by reaching out to check on your neighbors, family and friends. Use the free Zoom and many of the other products on your personal phone, tablet, or computer to stay connected to others.

My wife and family, The Todd Squad, wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday and new year season. May you find more laughter, more successes, and more strength in the coming year.

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” – Harriet Tubman

Matthew Todd

Happily married, father of four, and lover of the adventures in life. I love Jesus, vacationing with my family, camping, fishing, bike riding, swimming, walking, and sleeping. Sometimes I am even able to watch movies that I want to watch.

You can reach me on Facebook  or Instagram

Two days ago, my husband Matthew says, “they have a slot in Zone 5 at Canterbury Woods from 2-3.” Are you confused? So was I! A slot for what? He reminds me that we wanted to see how swimming works in our community during the pandemic. Our county closed all of the public pools for the season; since our community pools were open we wanted to try it out.

Our Home Owners Association set a limit of 100 people per 1-hour time period. The pool is divided into 10 zones. Each zone is limited to the 10 people from one group/family. You must fill out a waiver that states that you may be exposed with communicable diseases and you fully accept the risks. You hold harmless the Association. You also have to declare you are healthy and, to ensure the safety of yourself and others, you haven’t been to or around any risky people/places in the last 14 days.

I was anxious about the waiver. What if someone lies, is asymptomatic, thinks it’s just allergies…

But we went. And it was glorious! Why? For the following reasons:

1. Reservations – you get to choose what time and what zone you wanted. This needs to be permanent in our Association.  Most people want the places where you would be able to sit against the wall. I was pleased that no one wanted the middle of the pool where our little could still touch the bottom and feel comfortable swimming. 
2. Limited to 100 people in the pool. Most families do not have 10 people in their family. So, 10 families with 4-6 people in the pool. At most it’s 60 people.  No random kid squirting water from their noodles, jumping in while you’re diving in or swimming next to you. Just your own weirdos that you brought with you.
3. Face Coverings Required in the pool house. You have to have a face covering when going through the restrooms to get to the pool. Use your towel if you forget. The goal is to slow the spread and help to keep people healthy as possible.
4. Constant cleaning and sanitizing. Every time there was a lifeguard rotation, there was another person in a mask sanitizing the lifeguard chair and area.
5. Limited to 1 hour. No need to argue with your 8-year-old who is part mermaid that we need to go home. No lingering around the deck. No lounging in the chairs. No break times every 45 mins.
6. Focusing on the family – We got to focus on the family group and not divided into friend groups. Our pool outings are usually connection with our friends that we catch up with at the pool.  Instead we were ‘forced’ to swim together. This was fun. There are no chairs, so I got in. We ALL played and swam with one another.
7. One way – you only go through the pool house to get to the pool – you leave through the gate. It’s less opportunity to be exposed to someone coming in or exposed by you coming out.
8. I enjoyed getting the exercise and playing with my kids. I didn’t realize how much I missed the pool. Our family is at the pool daily during the summer, it is so weird to not be swimming every day. A little bit of summer normalcy in an upside-down crazy time.

So, if you live in a community that has opened the pool with restrictions you should try it! You can get some exercise, go into the out, continue to bond with your family (or friends if you want to coordinate times), and still have time to relax at home where you’re comfy.

Thanks for reading!

<3 Tatana

Tatana Todd

Chief Education Officer of Todd Homeschool Academy, teacher, history lover, recovering news junkie and lover of politics and truth – which does not have to be an oxymoron. I love Jesus,  vacationing with my family, baking, reading cool children’s books, playing violin, and watching crime shows.

You can reach me on Facebook