I've just came back away to work this week, left home Tuesday.
I was home for 3 weeks, literally got home just before the UK lockdown. I can honesty say I think it's been 3 weeks that has changed the UK.
Not sure how long I will be away but I'm confident I've got my little family into a good routine and they can make it through this while I'm away and they are still alone on lockdown. Told them they need to stick together and work together for each other. ?
8 year old daughter - handling it pretty well. Like a bit of an adventure. Was getting up early every day with me and we had tea and toast for brekky. Misses everyone and cries a bit when she remembers we are in lockdown. Writes letters to her Grandparents and we go around and post them and wave through the window as part of our daily exercise. Also loves doing Joe Wicks type workouts in front of the TV with some little mini dumbbells. Hilarious to watch, however I'll be very surprised if my TV screen isn't cracked by the time I get home! ?
15 year old daughter - holy shit! Anyone else got a teenage kid? Are we allowed to beat them? Asking for a mate (joking btw). This lockdown hit her hard. Shes a very sociable and popular kid, so has found this harder than the rest of us I think. About 3 days in she went in a bit of a strop and said she was going out with her friend to the shops. Had to sit her down and spell out what this is all about, daily death rates in Italy etc. She burst out crying. Think I went in a bit too hard. Shit. She went into a bit of a quiet moody spell for a week. Critical time for her at school and she enjoys her studies and also her gymnastics. Obviously she's missing having this stuff in her life and its a bit of a nasty shock for her. Happy to report my last week at home she pulled it around and got into a better routine. Stopped being a stroppy teenager and got more involved with us, and has become generally happier. I think the break from her friends is actually doing her good. Teenagers are ars eholes.
Mrs AntonioG - Initially had a massive panic on over the whole thing. Naturally something like this triggers peoples anxieties. If overthinking was an Olympic sport she'd have several Gold medals already. Joking aside, shes actually shown she is very resilient and has adapted really well to the whole thing. She works in a special needs school and had been doing one day a week, but is now working from home as its much safer.
Myself - Well, what can you do? You just have to get on with it I suppose. Its hard to watch your family dealing with something like this, I mean physically its very easy just staying home. But the mental duress and uncertainty is something that has got to them. I found when I was home I had been training a lot harder, putting more into my running. Usually in challenging times its my default setting. Keeps my mind sharp.
A crazy flipside to this is I have spent 3 good weeks with them. Quality time with no distractions. Usually they are at school and work and the hussle and bustle of daily life can get in the way. Suppose you have to enjoy these things while you can, in light of the ongoing situation.
General observations so far:
- Next time there is any word of a lockdown coming, I need to get a haircut first. Got a massive bouffant ket wig going on here.
- Home schooling is not my forte. Could maybe scrape by as a PE teacher. Genuinely concerned about this.
- I hate Facebook. Or mainly the know-it-all bell ends that never stop dripping on.
- I hate shopping more than I did before.
- We generally only buy what we need and don't hang about in the supermarket. Literally go, grab what we need then leave (paying obviously)
- The kids are awesome at doing house chores. Keen as mustard and they are quick learners. What a result. I like this. Massively.
- We were watching the daily govt corona-virus briefings religiously every night. Volume up, phones down.
- The garden is looking amazing.
- I'm banned from the trampoline for life.
Hope you're all keeping well ??
