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Quarantine has been hard on all of us – that goes without saying, right? Between working from home, homeschooling, round-the-clock cooking and cleaning, and cabin fever… the potential stressors are never-ending.

But one of the hardest things is not being physically there for our loved ones when they need us. With close friends getting sick, family members having babies, friends losing jobs, and kids celebrating birthdays, the list of people I’ve wanted to hug and smother with love – but haven’t been able to – feels endless.

Even though we may not be able to huddle up with our friends over cake and presents, that doesn’t mean we can’t still show support and celebrate them in new ways. Here are some tips to help you show them you care in this season.

1. Drive-By Parties

Drive-by showers and birthday parties have been one of my favorite parts of this whole quarantine. I just love that, as a society, we never give up when it comes to showering our friends and family with love.

At a drive-by party, guests line up outside the guest-of-honor’s house – whether it be a birthday boy or girl, a pregnant mom-to-be, or a new grad – and drive by parade style. Signs, decorations, music, and honking are all encouraged to make the guest-of-honor feel celebrated and special.

2. Thoughtful Gift Baskets

Sometimes, a thoughtfully crafted gift basket left on a front porch can make all the difference for someone who needs a little love.

It doesn’t have to be expensive or luxurious. Think: a few of their favorite snacks or treats; a relaxing candle; an activity book like crosswords, sudokus, or coloring pages; a tumbler or coffee mug with a funny saying to lift their spirits.

Even the smallest tokens of love can show someone who’s hurting that they’re not alone, and they’re seen.

3. Virtual Meet-Ups

Social distancing can feel really lonely, if you let it. Thank God for technology like FaceTime, Zoom, and Marco Polo!

All three of these apps allow you to connect face-to-face with friends and family, either one-on-one, or in a group chat. Video chatting may never replace real-life interaction (at least, I sure hope it doesn’t…), but it definitely fits the bill when your socialization tank needs filling! 

4. Surprise Food Deliveries

There’s a reason casseroles and lasagnas are the first thing people want to bring over when someone has a new baby, a surgery, or a loss in the family! Food is our universal love language, especially when there’s not much else we can do to “fix” a situation.

So whether you bake a batch of homemade cookies or pick up a meal from their favorite restaurant, the message will be the same: I’m thinking about you, and I want to help.

5. Thoughtful Notes

Last, but definitely not least, write them a good old-fashioned note! Honestly, nothing can ever top a heartfelt message from someone you love. It can be as simple as a text message saying, “how are you feeling?”, or as detailed as a handwritten note letting them know they’re on your mind and in your prayers.

In this crazy new normal we’re living in, it’s the simplest things that bring us together. When all this is over, maybe instead of lamenting the hardships and sacrifices, we’ll praise God for how our relationships were strengthened, against all odds. I hope so, anyway.

ABOUT CHRISSIE JONES

Chrissie is a wife, mother, and Christ Fellowship attender living in McKinney. She blogs about her life as an #IVFMom, being on the receiving end of toddler tantrums, and family-friendly recipes at onehangrymama.com!

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