In the space of just a few weeks, so much about life has changed.
For me and my family, it’s overwhelming, stressful and full of anxieties, scared of what’s going to happen, how to survive this and so many other questions that pop in to my mind every day.
I am a mum of three beautiful kids, aged 10, 8 and 4, so the first few weeks were the most difficult and challenging for me. Watching the news of the COVID-19 virus spreading all over the country and the world, announcements of cities going into lockdown, shops running out of essential stock, all was adding to the worries that I was having.
On top of all these, the huge burden of planning to home-school my kids, who also happen to have additional needs, helping them to understand the situation and explaining why there will be no schools, was all adding up.
Initially, somehow I was trying to cover everything, feed them, look after them, entertain them, home-school them and all of that was becoming too much to do or keep up with.
Then one day I thought to myself, this is not just home-schooling, this is an unprecedented emergency situation impacting the whole world. I thought the home-schooling part is a choice. I have to decide what I am going to teach, I am going to plan for it and I am going to be my kids’ teacher.
I thought rather than getting stressed out and feeling guilty that I am not doing enough, I should focus on things as they come. I realised that all of these things that I considered a waste of time, such as when they are playing board games, watching TV or playing in the garden, are also a part of valuable learning and exercise for my kids. It gives them time to de-stress, enjoy some moments and have fun. Everything doesn’t have to be about books and homework.
I decided to set a routine and give our days some shape. I accepted the fact that schools are shut down, offices are closed but not our body clock and kids’ body clock.
So we stuck to the routine, ever since, we get up and go to bed same time every day, we follow the same regular timing for serving meals, join Joe Wicks PE sessions every day (online exercise sessions). As well as that, I have made the rule that everyone in the house has to join in cleaning, tidying up, cooking and etc.
Life is weird enough as it is right now, the uncertainty in our life is sometimes unbearable for some of us but I am sure it’s not forever. While it’s very tiring and stressful, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am sure the hectic routine of life before COVID-19 will be back so we may enjoy life and look forward to better times.
I personally appreciate what GRoW is doing and it’s amazing to be part of GRoW.
To everyone, I would say, look after yourselves and your family, take it easy, be optimistic and hopefully all this will end soon.
Thank You
Khatera