2021 is finally here! After a lovely, albeit quiet Christmas, came a very odd New Years Eve. The chimes of Big Ben rang out over an empty London. Our impressive fireworks were replaced by a light show, that accompanied a running commentary of all the challenges of 2020. No one needed reminding of that! Then it was over. Not even a verse of Auld Lang Syne – not that I know the words anyway.
The TV was full of reruns of New Year celebrations of the past…it was just all a bit sad. I really missed seeing our Capital City packed with people singing and holding hands. Many of my friends went to bed early. Very few Happy New Year texts were sent. A sombre end to a difficult year.
I was invited to the Annual Dry January Party but I returned my RSVP, with a firm and very clear…Sod off!!
The 5th of January saw me reach for my first alcoholic beverage of 2021. A glass of Vodka Cranberry. The first day of Lockdown 3.0 in England, needed a little more than a cup of tea.
My daughter rejoiced as she returned to school on the 4th January, only for us parents to be told at 8pm that night; that the country was to close until at least the middle of February. Home schooling and complete isolation for weeks on end, has returned. Thank you once again Covid 19.
I cried. I was blissfully ignorant last year, as to what endless days of home schooling and no social interaction, would do to my mind and heart. Now I am all too aware. My daughter is one year older. The workload and expectation has increased. A Zoom meeting every morning at 8.45am, with 28 other 4-5 year old children is chaotic. Pre recorded lessons and activities to follow. The requirement to photograph and record each morsel of education, to then upload back to an online journal for marking. It’s intense.
I am one of the lucky ones. I have only one child at home and I don’t have the commitments of a full or part time job to fit in. Today was day one. I’m frazzled.
Registration, phonics, word of the day, sound of the day, maths, handwriting practice, craft and PE was quite a mountain to climb today. I love and respect our teachers, for all that they do and continue to do. I do wonder if they know what it’s like for the parents, trying their best to keep the education going, with little time, experience or support.
Cabin fever has already kicked in but on a much more cellular level. I cook, eat and teach in the same room. My house feels like it’s shrinking around me. We have had no visitors for months. We can’t break free to visit others either. My husband works and sleeps in the same room. Our beautiful home is becoming a cage with central heating!
What’s the date? 6th January.
What’s the time? Time for a Vodka.
Keep going folks. We will get through this.