School is back! There are so many parents smiling like cheshire cats this morning. A wave of relief has spread over those parents who have struggled to home school their children. I must admit, I have had it easy as my children are older and only one of them is still at school and he is 15, so generally took care of things himself. The online support has been amazing and kept my Son structured with his learning, so I can’t complain.
It is great to get them back into school though. The social aspect is the main thing I think all children have missed. Seeing mates, having a laugh and the social interaction, we normally take for granted, is probably the best feeling they will have today. I’m expecting my Son to have an early night tonight as he will be ‘wiped out’ after a full day socialising at school.
As every week passes, and restrictions ease, life will begin to normalise and, before you know it, the experience of the pandemic will just be a memory. I know it’s not over yet, but I am already thinking of doing the ‘normal’ things again. Going camping with the neighbours, planning the family holiday, travelling for work, booking hotels, flights and parking, arranging face-to-face meetings and delivering workshops to groups of people – actually in a room.
I am sure I will still utilise the virtual capability we have available though. Zoom has been my choice since lockdown and it has enabled me to do some things I never thought possible in the past. I actually attended a 2-day online workshop myself, which I found refreshing and ‘strangely’ engaging. The days actually flew past.
Like most families, we have used zoom to connect with facility and friends. I have probably spoken to a few of my mates, more over the last year, than ever before. Some of us would normally meet twice a year for a short break away, which hasn’t happened, but we have got together on zoom more often so I still feel connected, just not in the same way or with the same memories.
Soon, we will be back to cramming everything into our weekends again. Dividing ourselves into a million pieces to satisfy the need of all of those around us. Returning to work on the Monday, exhausted with our corporate ‘game face’ on. Shiny suit, ironed shirt, polished shoes maybe even a tie again. Sounds fun doesn’t it?
I know, for a fact, my world will never return to normal and I don’t want it to. I have enjoyed certain aspects of being forced to calm down, look around, breathe, reflect and move slower. I have appreciated getting to know my family more, seeing (and noticing) my children deal with their challenges and actually being there for them. They grow up so fast and I think as a working parent, I missed a piece of that and I am sure many of you reading this will agree we’ve sacrificed quality time to provide for our families.
The good thing is that we can have both now, we can work away and use technology to connect in a way that we have become accustomed to. Our children, partners, friends and family members are quite happy to be seen in their PJ’s, with their hair in a mess and in ‘real time’. They are actually being themselves, no facade, no game face, no pretence, just being them!
I think we now have the ability to do it all, and in a better way. I am looking forward to ‘filling my boots’ and enjoying the next stage in this amazing journey, called “life”.
Have a fantastic week, it’s just about to get exciting again.