CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN: A MUM'S VIEW ON HOW TO COPE WEEK 9

This week I’ve been seriously wrangling with the decision to send the kids back to school and nursery (if everything goes to plan) like I’m sure every parent has. It took me two days to make the choice and remembering how emotional the five year old was during the first four weeks of lockdown I’ve decided against it.

If they were going back longer and things were normal I wouldn’t hesitate but I think the upheaval and massive changes at school for such a short space of time will affect him hugely. It’s crazy how many massive choices we’ve had to all make as parents over such a short period. Weirdly though I don’t have as much mum guilt as I used to, I think it’s a combination of being with them constantly and also going with your gut more, these decisions are all so personal to everyone’s circumstances. 

As for nursery, the thought of the two year old space invader with a penchant for licking going back there is not a pleasant one. With grandparents isolating too maybe this way we might at least get to cuddle them sooner.

Working from home and juggling the kids is seriously interesting. I’m trying to write a blog with the two year old hanging off my skirt asking for dinner which I am also in the middle of cooking, we do a little dance to pass three seconds and I remember the five year olds' pizza has been on for too long. This means because it is done to non anaemic standards it will be met with disapproval. Then the phone rings or inevitably someone does a poo.

Despite the crazy we’ve definitely shaken down into our little routine, the kids are safe and we are doing everything we can to keep them happy and occupied even if I have avoided paints for a week. 

The five year old has started reading to himself too which is amazing! If he wakes up early he gets a book and reads it quietly or waits for his brother to wake up and they play in bed. This is the kind of level of parenting I could get seriously used to, until they start shouting whilst stood on the bed saying they just want to open the window ‘a little bit’ I have never moved so fast in my life... 

Find out more about our guest weekly blogger, Sara Witham owner of Evil Empire Marketing by visiting her website https://www.evilempire.co.uk.