Well here we are, at home, three weeks since life changed beyond all recognition. The schools have closed and thousands of parents have been given the task of home schooling their children. 🤦‍♀️

 

It was such short notice, no one really had much chance to prepare. We fortunately had anticipated it may happen & stocked up on paper, glue and pencils, but to be honest, in our house, we haven’t taken the task too seriously. Most days the boys sit down for an hour or so to do some maths, some writing, some reading and some arts and crafts. They probably aren’t learning anything new, but we are keeping their brains ticking over. They don’t do it willingly, but are enjoying the word searches we have found online and are becoming very competitive to see who can find the answers first.

We are lucky that we have a garden, and beyond that a field and a small woodland. In an attempt to enthuse an interest in nature, there have been walks in the woods trying to spot birds, butterflies and different plants. Boys being boys, they are more interested in who can find the biggest stick to make a sword!

A local farm were offering bookable spots to pick your own spuds. A great way to get some fresh air, a change of scenery and a lesson in where our food comes from. We had the field to ourselves and spent a lovely half hour, finding the potatoes hiding in the mud, the boys screeching with delight each time they found one. After filling our buckets, the twins carried some of our hoard back to the van, and between us we had gathered enough to feed us for a few months.

The garden is looking tidier, having been weeded and new flowers planted. We have also planted vegetable seeds, which is my annual attempt to entice the boys to eat more of them. I try to encourage them, not always successfully, to help me water the garden in the evening and watch the plants grow.

There have been domestic science lessons, making toad in the hole and cakes, but with all the fussy eaters, it’s usually the adults that tend to eat the creations.

 

My old Wii has been dusted off and set up in the lounge for PE lessons, where we’ve been ten pin bowling, boxing, running and playing tennis.

We have had down time too when they’ve played in the garden, we’ve had a bbq in the sun and they’ve spent time in the hot tub.

Through the magic of the Internet, they have been able to keep in touch with some cousins via video calls, whilst others have walked their dog in the field behind us and called over the fence.

It is a very confusing time for them. Although they understand there is a virus that is making lots of people very poorly, they don’t understand why they can’t see their friends when some children are still allowed to go to school.

Three week’s in lockdown, we are all going a bit stir crazy and tempers occasionally flare, but we are doing our best to keep them busy, keep their little minds working and their bodies exercised. It’s not perfect, but it has to suffice, while the world continues its fight against this aggressive pandemic.

Well done to ALL the parents out there probably doing the same, you’re ALL doing great.

For the adults in our house, we are probably eating a little too much, not getting enough proper exercise and definitely drinking a little too much alcohol.

However you have to do what you have to do to keep safe and stay sane during these unprecedented times.