Hey everyone I thought I’d just pass this on – it’s from Random Person on the Internet so it might help some of you. xx
Hello,
I am Random Person on the internet.
In the course of my life, I have spent literally hours waiting in for deliveries. What’s more, over the years, I have met several children, some of them more than once. So I thought it might be useful to share some of the things I have learned on my journey in the hope that it will help some of you mamas out there in these strange and difficult times.
Remember, it might seem like a good idea to instigate a tight schedule for your children. But what is important now isn’t the time on the clock. What matters is the time in your heart. So limit yourself to blocking the day into 10 -15 minute segments to allow your precious charges to show you the way and express themselves.
Remember, nature isn’t in isolation, nature loves you (well all the non viral bits), (ok some of the non viral bits). It is absolutely essential that you spend all day outdoors with your little ones, gazing at trees or poking worms with a 2-meter long stick and of course, this isn’t the moment to limit screen time. If they want to spend 15 hours a day in a darkened room playing 18 cert FPS games embrace it. These are hard times for all of us, be guided by your child (and the sights on their semi automatic).
Remember, you don’t need to replicate the full school experience, no one is expecting that. The important thing is just to be there for your child, in the same building, 24/7, for months. Six hours a day of undergrad level maths should be enough. Instead, take time to share fun activities, bake your daily croquembouche together, enjoy hours of staring at post modern art on your phone or simply whittle instruments from whatever vegetables you still have, form an orchestra and do your bit to raise neighbourhood moral by playing Ode to Joy from the balcony at 7am every morning. Who knows perhaps the neighbours will join in!
Remember, chores can wait. What your children need now is love not laundry! Just be sure to clean every surface in the building with home made soap three times a day and wash each grape for as long as it takes you to sing the final aria from Tosca. Or mix it up! Why not wash your pasta with Don Giovanni!
Remember, keeping in contact with the outside world is vital. Sign your tween daughter up to Twitter and ask her to express an opinion, she’ll make new friends in no time. Make time for yourself by ensuring you reply to every single one of the 57 WhatsApp messages that arrived from the other school mums while you were having a wee.
But above all else, remember, do absolutely everything all of the time and nothing at all all of the time. Listen to every bit of advice on the internet and ignore every bit of advice on the internet. You will get through this! Unless you don’t.
You Go Mama!
Love from, Random Person
(Normal service will be resumed eventually, SBx)
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