Life lately {Adjusting to life after 2 weeks of lockdown}

Life lately {Adjusting to life after 2 weeks of lockdown}

It’s a strange time but I still want to document this time at home together. I feel it will be a moment in our lives that we will discuss for many years to come. It’s safe to say that we’re all trying to navigate this time the best way we can, following government advice, staying safe and at home. Homeschooling George for the foreseeable. Finding a new normal. After 2 weeks I feel like we are settling into our new normal. Into a routine. Although the term normal feels a little inappropriate and strange to use, as this will never be or feel normal. I don’t want this to ever be normal.

I know I’m not the only parent and family coping with juggling home working and home schooling. I’m learning that balance is key. For him and for us. I’m flexing my working hours to enable me to support George and his questions. I’m lucky that my work has never really been a 9 to 5 type of job. In recruitment we often work evenings and early mornings so really I’m just pushing harder on those times as it’s what is necessary right now.

Initially we felt a little overwhelmed with the thought of homeschooling George, imposter syndrome, that we would struggle or that we are not good enough to support his learning. Or maybe that he wouldn’t adapt. I definitely underestimated our gorgeous George and feel very lucky for how he has adjusted to the situation. The reality is we are not teachers and as parents we are both working from home as well as wanting to do the best by George. We’re hanging in there. What we’re doing is working. Although I will admit, that homeworking and homeschooling is a little tricky.

Here are 5 ways that have helped us…

 

Life Lately {Adjusting to life under lockdown}

 

Daily exercise

Life would be much harder without our daily exercise. Even if only for a brief walk. As we don’t have a great garden space we make the most of a field across the road. Thankfully we rarely see walkers. For the most part we walk out together, at the weekends we venture out on long walks around our neighbourhood often with a football in tow. Our daily week day exercise tends to to be a game of football together on the field. Although I am considering walking out in the evenings on my own some days. I’m a huge believer in that it’s important to find time for yourself.

Having our own space and schedule

This was our best decision. Having our own space, working to a daily schedule, it works for us. We come together at snack time and lunch time. Tea and coffee breaks. It’s really that simple for us. Due to our jobs it wouldn’t work for Mr H and I to share a space and if truth be told as we’re all home together for the foreseeable I feel it’s best not to be on top of each other all day, every day. George loves his playroom and has always had a workstation, so when he’s working to his daily schedule this is his space. I’m actually quite jealous.

As we’re working throughout this period we have pulled together a schedule for George. Between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm he’s working on a schedule of work set by his teacher. He’s exercising with Joe Wicks and taking extended breaks and lunch time. He has free time from 3 pm to 5 pm where he can play online with his friends, watch his shows on the TV or whatever makes him happy. And, we flex on this where we need to. Whatever it takes.

 

Catching up with friends and family

We’re trying our best to have as many face time calls, Houseparty dates and Zoom chats as we can. Whether it’s daily updates with family or weekend quizzes with friends. It’s the new night out. The new way of communicating. George was a little sad last Thursday, he’s missing the friends that we don’t have the telephone numbers for which in turn made me really sad. I forgot about those we don’t have numbers for who he misses seeing everyday. We’ve mixed things up a little in the last few days to enable him to be in regularly contact which has already had an impact as we start week 3 of lockdown.

 

Making a few changes in the garden

I got quite upset about this when we first went into lockdown. You see, last September we decided to start work on stripping our garden back with the intention of getting on top of it in time for the Easter break. So, that first week of lockdown when the weather was glorious sadly George didn’t have an outdoor space. I felt like we had let him down. And so, we’ve tried our best to make the most of the space we have – without spending money as we need to only spend money on essentials. We popped George’s swing ball in and come to the terms that it’s messy and dirty but it makes George happy and means he can escape during the daytime.

 

Celebrating the smallest of wins

I’ve always been one to celebrate the little things. Whether it’s in my work or home and personal life. It feels right that we do that even more during these unknown times. Whether it’s getting through the week, George writing a book review off his own back, daily reading and writing, finding new interests or ways of learning, doing #PEWITHJOE together or managing to work successfully together. We will celebrate the little things.

 

I often lose my thoughts to those who lost their lives, to our NHS, carers, teachers and all the other key workers helping to keep our country going. Together we will get through this. Although as I say that I am very aware that we are lucky to be home together, only leaving the house for food and our daily exercise. We’re adapting. We’re thankful.

And that’s Life lately {Adjusting to life after 2 weeks of lockdown} for our little family.