IT WAS A QUIET "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY" IN ISOLATION 2020...

Home made mini pancakes specially prepared by Munequita and Tim.

Couldn't stop admiring these pretty flowers. They were given to me by my kids.

Saturday, 21st of March...

My initial plan was to travel to work by car. I was pleased to know there was no congestion charge on Sundays. Anything to avoid public transport, now that paranoia had kicked in because of Covid.

Sunday, 22nd of March...

This morning I got a call informing I no longer need to come into work. I'm not surprised, judging how fast Covid was rapidly spreading and how bad it had affected my work. 

My message to everyone, 

STAY SAFE INDOORS.  

Until yesterday my thoughts were all over the place, still reflecting on so many events which led to the closure of my work and how Covid had put a lot of fear in all of us.

Thankfully last week I just about managed to stock up with food just in case of a lockdown. 

Inevitably it will happen at some point.  For us it finally happened on Mothering Sunday. It was our first day stuck indoors, just me and the children. It was a quiet day drinking lots of hot drinks and water in between keeping active. This is only the beginning and so far it felt so out of character to think how my role had switched in such a different way.

I AM NOW OFFICIALY, A STAY AT HOME MUM 

I will need to think of ways how to find some sort of escapism from my kids, when life around our home becomes overwhelming and most importantly find ways to keep them busy while they are indoors. Already Tim was constantly under my feet, being silly, shouting continuously into my ear, his way of getting my attention. 

"Tim. Stop it."

"Love you Mummy."

"Me too... So what do you want to do?"

Tim ignores question. Moves around and swings his arms all over the place.

"You know I love you Mummy" 

"I know you do" 

I could see he was totally over excited, so much he just didn't know what to do with himself, as he  continually interrupted me while I was checking some messages from work. 

"Tim! Stop Shouting in my ear. Let me check this quick."

"Mummy is Daddy coming?"

"You know he isn't... Are you happy Mummy's around?"

"Course I am."

The thought of Dad not being around, saddened Tim. This is why he was so restless and upset later as I put him to bed. It was a sudden change Tim slowly had to adjust. 

DAD HAD GONE INTO TOTAL ISOLATION BECAUSE HE HAS HEALTH ISSUES AND LIVES A VERY LONG WAY.

After I rested for a bit with Tim under my feet, I thought of a task he would be happy to do. This would keep him occupied for at least an hour and it was something he would enjoy doing. I put Tim in charge of pressure washing our decking.

It was a beautiful cold sunny afternoon as we both slowly emerged outside and began our gardening and cleaning tasks. Tim really enjoyed helping until it was time for supper. The girls eventually took over helping Mummy in the kitchen.

To all my readers, 

I hope you find this short post inspiring. The big question we will be asking ourselves, from now on... What tasks will you be doing with your children while at home?  For us on Mothering Sunday we decided to pressure wash our rather neglected decking with the idea of spending more time in the garden in the next coming weeks. I managed also to do a bit of gardening. I suppose now is the time for all of us to scratch our heads, as we ponder hard... 

WHAT OTHER NEW THINGS CAN WE DO, WE COULDN'T DO BEFORE, BECAUSE WE WERE SO BUSY AND TIRED BECAUSE OF WORK?

WRITTEN BY IRENE KATHERINE/KATHERINE'S LASTING MEMORIES 2020