Isolation Mum

Like some  Mum’s I have to confess that I was looking forward to ‘home school’.  Staying safe at home from the outbreak of covid 19 seemed like a brilliant idea and a nice break from trying to get a park every morning whilst my daughter tells me;

‘Terrible parking again Mum!’

The first week of home school started with teaching my kids the meaning of research. My son was stuck on a maths question,

“Can you help me Mum?”

“Of course!” As any parent of a teenage son will hopefully agree I was obviously eager for any kind of interaction which wasn’t the answer to ‘what can I eat next?’. Unfortunately I found myself looking at his iPad with the same quizzical expression as he was, hmm triangulation! Not to be confused with strangulation, (sorry, I have been binging on Dexter, there’s so many interesting serial killers for a single Mum to get to know in Iso!). Anyway back to reality, not Netflix…

“Oh! I know” I replied full of enthusiasm that I knew I could find the answer. I get my phone out of my pocket and google triangular numbers, my son smiling up at me from the reclining chair next to the fire, (the desk that I had meticulously tidied in preparation was out of the question apparently, perhaps horizontal learning keeps the blood flowing to the brain?).

“Well if you don’t know the answer then google it!” I say, my daughter now unplugged from her listening task and shaking her head at me.

‘Mum that’s cheating!’ She exclaims.

‘Well I don’t know the first 20 triangular numbers but I know that the internet will, it’s called research.’ I hand my son the phone but no need he has searched it up too! Problem solved.

‘Research’ the kids look at me and laugh. I think back to my Nan’s bookshelf full of, what were those things called? Ah yes encyclopedia’s, surely that is what the internet is? And that’s how I would have found the answer when I was 14!

Missing Family

On day two I thought I should send my Dad his birthday present as we were booked to fly to England next month to celebrate his 70th. Unfortunately that isn’t going to happen now but as he says as long as ‘we all stay healthy’ that’s the main thing. I ask the kids to write a birthday card for him before they start their school work, with our puppy nudging his nose into my leg telling me it’s walk time not letter writing time. My daughter and I both end up in tears as the realisation hits that we were so looking forward to our first trip home since we came to Australia in 2013.

Thank goodness for technology at least every Sunday we get to see half my parents faces, a forehead, the ceiling and if we’re really lucky a heated discussion over who is holding the phone at the wrong angle or why the volume isn’t loud enough.

What day is it?

It certainly doesn’t feel like a Friday other than the fact that I could do with a large glass of wine by midday! After the Easter Break the children had happily started back into their new school work routine at home but somehow the every day routine has merged. Now not defined by activities like netball, piano or dancing, sleepovers, parties, restaurants; it’s difficult to know what there really is to look forward to?

My eldest had home-tech today which meant making a lasagna, I have to admit that my white sauce is always kept on the heat but I managed to bite my tongue and let him continue with the instructions. He was pleased as punch when it was finished and as my daughter sat picking out all the pasta and pushing the delicious sauce aside he turned into the grown up.

“Oh just eat it!” He pleaded

“Can’t I just do myself some two minute noodles?” She replied

Later we sit on the couch together, my glass of wine in hand.

“It’s LEGO masters tonight” I say looking through the foxtel menu, “that’s funny it’s not there”

“LEGO masters is on Sunday Mum, it’s Friday today”

“Oh yeah! God knows what day it is! I think we have a Goggle Box recorded?”

Last Week of Home School – (Week Eight!)

I’m not sure how we have all survived eight weeks of home-school but we did! Two veg patches have been dug and planted, a new silk pillow case made, seven books published and between us six books read. Lasagne, beef pies, Japanese cookies, chocolate croissants and paella have all been made by my son. Now finally the kids have a date to return to school,  yippee!

My Dads 70th went well as the folks had figured out how to add more than one person on whatsapp! The test was interesting with Mum grabbing the phone and Dad shouting ‘what you doing?’

‘Well there’s the button, I’m pressing it!’ she replied.

My brother appeared and then Mum and Dad dissolve into darkness and then reappear, hands grabbing at the phone.

As everyone talks at once, over each other, laughing and joking at our uniquely, inadequate, individual communication techniques, yep it will be just like every other family get together.

Home-schooling will I hope be a thing of the past for the time being but it was lovely to have so much time watching my kids learn and grow in ways I don’t think many of us have ever experienced. Oh and the extra cuddles on the couch were priceless!