Today was calm and peaceful. I didn’t expect it to be, especially with it being the first day of the eldest two kids being at home after their schools’ sudden closure, but it really was. And I feel so much calmer myself as a result.
We’ve followed the advice and socially distanced all day. We had some parcels to take to the Post Office, so we all headed out this morning on foot and scooter and make the trip to our closest one. Ot’s located inside a Tesco store on a parade of shops, so I stayed outside with the kids – positioned away from where other people were coming and going – and just my husband went in. There was a queue to be served, but whilst he was there he managed to pick up a box of eggs in the Tesco part of the store and also a few sweet treats. A Cream Egg has honestly never tasted so good.
On our walk we kept our distance from other people and made the most of a gorgeously sunny day – despite a bit of a cold wind. The local butchers had a queue out of the door and the local chemist shop was serving everyone from a table placed across the shop doorway – so that only the staff themselves went into the shop. A sensible precaution. It’s all very weird feeling though when just a couple of weeks ago we were able to buy most things without any problems at all and yet now we get excited about finding a shop with eggs in it.
I felt very proud of the kids though. The route we took today took us right past the park where they usually go to the playground, but they both understood that this wasn’t an option today. I’m so hoping that walks can continue to be a thing, but that’s all going to depend on whether or not the rest of the population follow the social distancing instructions and if we don’t have to go into a lockdown like other countries have.
Back at home we’ve all managed to keep ourselves busy all day. It’s been perfect weather for clothes drying outside so two loads of laundry are all complete without having to turn the tumble drier on at all. My daughter spent some time in the back garden practicing her football skills, skipping and playing on the trampoline. Thank goodness we’re no longer in the tiny flat without a garden that we only moved out of a couple of years ago!
My son has spent a fair amount of time building Lego, but at one point he burst into the kitchen and announced that he was going to do some school work! I’d told both of them that I wasn’t going to make them do anything school related until Monday, but off his own back he sat down and did a comprehension exercise from one of the Key Stage 1 workbooks that his school sent home with him yesterday. The final question flummoxed me and his elder sister though. The passage of text was about Amy Johnson and then at the end it simply asked. Is this fiction or non-fiction? How can you tell? Errrr. How can you tell? That question had be foxed somewhat! I might have to email his teacher next week.
Normally on a weekend dinner ends up feeling all rushed. We’ve been out somewhere and upon returning there’s a bit of a panic to get dinner on the table before someone’s hunger makes them snap. It was quite a contrast today to have what felt like all the time in the world to get it cooked and served up. I even got offers of help in the kitchen. Almost unheard of without some prompting.
In addition to all that the kids have watched a film on Netflix, I’ve managed to clear out a box of paperwork that I’ve been meaning to do for about a year, computer games have been played and old toys rediscovered. My eldest has done a spot of computer programming from a book on Scratch that she found in her bedroom and also started working through the projects in an electronics kit she got a couple of Christmases ago.
I’m not expecting all days to be as calm as today, but it would be nice to think that there might be some calm days amidst all the craziness to come.
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