COVID-19 has affected many households throughout the district. Families have had to stay in their homes without contact with anyone but each other. Although these times are uncertain, families are becoming closer through this difficult time. 

As Governor Tim Walz pushed back the stay at home order to May 4, families are growing closer to each other. Households are creating memories that will last a lifetime throughout these rough couple of months. Many families are creating paper hearts and placing them on their front doors to spread love, joy and hope. Others are making face masks and donating them to local hospitals in need.

“I am honestly really enjoying this time at home with my family. We have done many crafty projects to help out our community,” parent Tanya Grundhal explained.

On April 23, Walz decided to close all schools for the rest of the year. This has children continuing distance learning at home for two consecutive months. Parents all across the district now are encouraged to help their children with many school assignments. Families are learning more about their children from how they act to how they study each day.

Dana Schletz explains she is becoming very educated with what her kids would be doing at school every single day. Schletz said she has helped her kids with schoolwork, and is understanding what her kids’ personalities are like inside the classroom.

Although households are unable to visit loved ones, families are using online video chats on facetime, House Party or Zoom. With over 200 million daily participants, Zoom has rapidly become one of the most popular apps and extensions throughout this rough time. Families use this app very frequently to talk with multiple family members at one time. Video chats have become very common within households across the nation.

Makenna Schletz explains she is “very grateful” to have such amazing online resources to get ahold of her “grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends.”

Bonding with family members has become the highlight of the worldwide quarantine. From making cards and masks for healthcare workers, to working on home projects, families have grown closer and have made positive life long memories during this negative time in the world. Families and households have done many activities together which would never have occurred without these scary uncertain times today.