Woman Who Moved Near Amish During COVID-19 Shares How the Community Approached Life During Quarantine

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down daily life across the country, Jaclyn Shaw felt like everything she and her husband had built disappeared overnight.

The couple met while working as actors at Disneyland, where they spent nearly a decade performing before the theme parks abruptly closed. With their livelihoods gone and uncertainty mounting, they made a life-altering decision: leave California and start over in northern Indiana, the small-town region where Shaw’s husband grew up.

For Shaw, the move meant more than a career reset. Born and raised on the West Coast, she was leaving behind family, familiarity, and the only life she had ever known.

An Unexpected Introduction to Amish Life

Shaw’s understanding of the Amish community deepened after she welcomed her daughter in June 2022. When her baby was just a few months old, Shaw struggled to find available childcare in the area. On the advice of her husband’s childhood friends, she hired a young Amish woman to help care for her child.

“At first, it felt like a normal nanny experience,” Shaw explains. “My husband’s friends grew up around farms and Amish families, so for them it was familiar. For me, it was completely new.”

The 22-year-old caregiver, Rosanna, soon became a trusted presence in Shaw’s home. As their relationship grew, Shaw began asking questions — about Amish traditions, beliefs, and daily life.

Rosanna explained customs like Rumspringa, the coming-of-age period when some Amish youth are allowed to experience life outside their community before deciding whether to commit to the Amish faith. She also challenged common misconceptions.

“I thought they didn’t know anything about modern technology,” Shaw admits. “That’s not true. They just choose not to engage with a lot of it — especially pop culture.”

A Different Pandemic Mindset

What struck Shaw most was how the Amish community navigated the pandemic. While much of the country came to a halt, she observed that life around her continued with little disruption.

“They basically kept living their lives the same way,” she recalls. “Nothing major changed, and nothing major happened within that community.”

To Shaw, their approach mirrored how she personally felt about COVID-19.

“We have to keep living — respectfully,” she says. “Be smart. If you’re sick, stay home. Protect the elderly and immunocompromised. But life still has to go on.”

That balance — caution without fear — left a lasting impression.

A Focus on Peace and Community

Shaw believes the Amish response reflects a broader worldview centered on peace, simplicity, and self-reliance.

“It’s not that they don’t care about what’s happening in the world,” she explains. “They focus on what’s right in front of them — their families, their neighbors, their community.”

She describes an emphasis on mutual aid, quiet routines, and helping one another rather than reacting to outside noise. Coming off the upheaval of COVID-19, that mindset felt grounding.

Public Health Guidance Still Applies

Health officials continue to stress the importance of preventive care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people experiencing respiratory symptoms should stay home and practice good hygiene. COVID-19 vaccination remains recommended for individuals six months and older.

For Shaw, observing Amish life didn’t replace public health awareness — but it reframed how she thought about resilience.

“They keep to themselves, better their families, and support one another,” she says. “There’s something very powerful in that.”

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