Well, we’re on the cusp of the kids going back to school in the UK and I know I’m not the only one feeling weird about it. Of course we all have some trepidation about how this is all going to work whilst we’re still in the middle of a global pandemic, but it’s also more than this.

We’ve all been at home so long and been doing things so differently that it’s difficult to see how we’re going to get back into that routine – I do not envy teachers who must find it hard to settle kids after 6 weeks off, nevermind after 5 months! Some kids are desperate to get back, others are going to find it really difficult, and those little reception children are going to have to go in without their mum’s – heartbreaking for everyone. And us parents, we are going to find it so tough – I’m already losing sleep! Not only is the hygiene aspect soon to be out of my hands, but I’m not going to have my child with me all day for the first time in 5 months! And although there is, undeniably, some appeal in this, I’m going to miss him so much! We’ve been inseparable for this time and it’s mostly been amazing.

So, I’m going to focus on all the fab things we’ve done during this time. All the new places we’ve found, all the things we’ve learnt, all the nature we’ve seen, flowers we’ve grown, all the kitchen discos…

All the PE with Joe, the home learning lessons and projects, the VE Day celebrations in the garden, the water fights, the home Sports’ Day, our garden music festival…

The movie nights, the giggles, the endless football in the garden, the craft sessions making posters and banners for various events, the looking after a poorly robin and the discovery of hedgehogs visiting our garden.

And now that I’ve written that out, it’s clear that we’ve been lucky enough to have had loads of fun during this scary time. So, rather than worry about what I can’t control when school restarts, I’m going to try to focus on the gift of time that under normal circumstances we would never have had. And I’m going to spend the next 5 months sorting out all the photo memories!

Stay safe.

Clare x

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