2020 was a train wreck of a year, but it wasn’t all bad and there are certainly plenty of things to be thankful for. I’m thankful that no one in my family has been severely sick with COVID. I’m thankful that our one family exposure so far did not result in any of us getting sick (I’m definitely thankful for a no-exceptions mask policy on that one!) And I’m thankful that, in general, this year has presented few real hardships for our family.
And while there are a lot of things I would choose to go back and change if I could, 2020 was also really awesome and good for our family in many ways.
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These are 20 of my Favorite Things from 2020 that have made our lives a little easier, happier, or healthier:
Board Games
We’ve been a puzzle family for many years (mostly Sugarplum and me), and while hubby and I have never really been board game people, the COVID shutdown earlier this year gave us more time to play games as a family and there have definitely been a few that have stuck as family favorites:
Clear Skin
I’ve mentioned my skin problems before, but it really got out of control at the beginning of the pandemic shutdown. Luckily, though, being stuck at home all those months gave me both the time and the patience to actually figure out how to manage my cystic acne. I’ve come up with a multi-product system that has made a huge difference in the quality of my skin over the past few months. Along with Differin cleanser and dark spot serum (which I started noticing along my hairline last summer), and a good night cream, I’ve also been using an acne light treatment which, I think, has made the biggest difference in finally clearing up my skin.
Outdoor Play
Since we got shutdown in March and the kids found themselves with way more free time than they were used to, they’ve been spending a lot more time outdoors. Over the months, for birthdays and Christmas, we’ve gifted the kids a few extra special and fun outside toys that keep them busy for hours upon hours.
Nintendo Switch
I am not a video game person, and aside from my Game Boy phase, I never have been (I had the really cool see through one!), I never have been. But, hubby got himself a switch last year and we got the kids a few interactive games last Christmas and I will say that little box has provided some solid entertainment for my kids during the long days stuck at home! We mostly stick with the movement oriented games that they can play together (we have extra controllers so more people can play at once) and this Christmas we got a few of the Labo Kits, which are awesome!
Mathematics
This is probably a strange one, but the past few years of math have been a huge struggle for my girls, and this year I finally found some curriuclums we all love. They’re doing better at learning math concepts, I’m feeling more adequate as a teacher, and we’re all a looooooot less stressed! MCP Mathematics is now our go-to elementary program and Prentice Hall Algebra Rediness has been an awesome pre-algebra program for my girls, and we’ll likely continue with Prentice Hall math programs for high school (see our other favorite Secular Elementary Homeschool Programs).
The Little Things
Notebook Paper Wipe-off Chart
I can’t really explain why, but this wipe-off chart has brought me so much joy this year as we’ve homeschooled through a global pandemic. It’s poster size, doesn’t stain, and a little tape makes it simple to hang anywhere! I’ve used it daily for math with my girls and it’s easily one of my most favorite homeshcooling tools.
Books
Our local library was closed for over four months. It was rough on our family of readers who go through books faster than toilet paper. But in addition to figuring out Overdrive, I also discovered OpenLibrary which is a free, digital book borrowing service that my kids have loved and that I’ve found extremely helpful when putting together the book lists for Big Ideas through History.
Gas Fireplace
When we bought our house two years ago, we knew the chimney needed repaired before we could use it. Which means, we never have. Earlier this spring (before the shutdown), I had the random idea that we should look into converting it to gas. Well, this fall we did and it was worth every penny and minute spent on the install. It turns on with the push of a button and there is no cleanup or mess to worry about. Plus, it keeps our entire downstairs warm, meaning we aren’t heating the whole house all day, and who doesn’t like the glow of a fire on cold winter days?
