The Corona virus is hanging over our heads like a black cloud, a little like the weather has been in East Tennessee this month. There have been more than a few times where, at least one of us, has felt seriously uneasy about the whole situation. Here is what we are doing to deal with our fears and the overload of emotion in our home.

1. Get the facts. It is almost impossible to avoid the headlines on this crisis. I am not advocating hiding your head in the sand with this, but honestly the constant flow of news is hard to take and can be quite unsettling. We have found that looking at the CDC website as well as our state and local health department’s sites to be very calming. They give real information, numbers and percentages that put it all in perspective.
2. Make a plan. My biggest worrier is also a planner. I believe she feels the most anxiety when she is unable to control her situation. Enter the plan. We have discussed as a family what we would do if one of us got sick, or the family is quarantined. The kids have each picked and we have stocked up on a few favorite snacks. They have seen me add some basic over the counter medications to our supply. We have planned activities that we could do if we get stuck at home. Knowing what to expect has calmed nerves, and the prospect of illness or a quarantine seems a lot less scary.
3. Get busy. We have followed the suggestions for sanitation from the CDC’s website. Each of us has a few assignments to do to help keep our home environment safe, as well as a list of personal hygiene tasks. I feel like the children focusing on what they can do has taken the emphasis off of the feeling of helplessness, with the added bonus that our home and hands are a great deal cleaner.
4. Create a stable environment. We are carrying on at home as normally as possible. Family dinner and daily routines are very helpful in making all of us feel secure. This is not a bad time for a little extra comfort either. Chicken noodle soup and hot chocolate chip cookies anyone?

Our Favorite Molasses Cookies (the ultimate in comfort food around here)

Adapted from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

1 1/2 cups butter ( no substitutions)

1/2 cup black strap molasses

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar (plus 1/3 cup for rolling the cookies in)

2 large eggs

4 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon salt

Cream the butter, sugar and molasses together, then beat in the eggs one at a time. Sift the dry ingredients together and beat into the creamed mixture. Chill the dough for at least 20 -30 minutes (don’t skip this step!). Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and then roll into the reserved sugar. Bake for 8-10 minutes in a preheated 375 degree oven. Take care not to overbake these. I like to take them out of the oven when they are still just a bit underdone in the middle and let them finishing baking on the sheet.