week fourteen // ... and the people stayed home.

We settled into our new normal.

Working from home and homeschooling. Lots of nature walks, lots of play, lots of learnings and a good dose of screens when the parents just really had to get some work done!

It is a juggle but one we are grateful to have in this current climate.

There are many silver-linings to this all-enveloping thunderstorm. One is the slowing down, the gift of time. The easing of outside pressures, more presence for the kids. They are having so much fun and I am so thankful for their resilience and carefree spirits.

For all it's challenges, there are many good lessons and gifts of this season that I know we won't forget.

#project52

week thirteen // suddenly homeschoolers

This was the week that the rumours suddenly became reality.

On a Sunday night (March 22), the message came out that schools were closing. Then they were and then they weren't and then they were kinda-sorta. Monday was the day of reckoning and then suddenly we were picking the kids up Monday from school and not knowing when they would return. So surreal, it was hard to believe it was happening, and so quickly. Everything was closing down, from gyms to pools to restaurants.

Although we weren't quite sure how we were going to handle the work situation, we knew we would have to trust God, wait and figure it out and just put our family first no matter what, even if we didn't know what that our new normal looked like yet. But with people losing jobs all around us, we felt grateful to have jobs to juggle, even if all the sudden change was overwhelming at times.

Suddenly we were homeschooling! Whoa. I expected the kids to be worried or upset about the sudden change, I planned to just ease into it slowly... but instead on the very first day they were begging to begin. And so we did... finding our way and breaking our day up into chunks to keep it manageable with a mix of academics and activities, rest and fun and as much outside time as we could. I certainly wasn't going to stress about schooling, with so much else going on to process! The school provided wonderful support as best they could while also finding their way. It was a totally unprecedented world for all of us. We all needed a little grace to find our way.

Meanwhile the kids? They were so happy and content, excited for the change, keen to try new things, just so utterly resilient, flexible and good hearted, I was just honestly in awe.

Something was beginning to tell me that though the world was tipping upside down, with heartbreak and loss and challenges, it was also going to be a grounding and precious time for our family. As I wrestled with my own emotions, I could only be grateful for the good that was emerging.

#project52 #catchingup #coronadiaries

week twelve // when corona was coming

week twelve // corona is coming

After we got back from our Kiama trip, things really started to escalate. Even in the few days we were away, the world was changing, cases were climbing, everything changed so much to suddenly something that was now impacting daily life.

New terms like social distancing, self isolation and so on became part of our lexicon and all our family adventures became to quiet locations in wide open spaces.

And things were only getting started. The kids were still at school but chatter was starting about the schools closing (incomprehensible!?), we were still at work but more and more other people were starting to work from home. My dad was visiting from Queensland then suddenly states were closing borders and he had to skedaddle home.

It was unprecedented and strange and surreal and all those words. It didn't really seem real until suddenly it was. I think the reality of this historic time is still sinking in!

#project52 #coronadiaries #catchingup

PS I have been doing Project 52 this year but thought in the current climate I should start recording it on my blog too. I really want to keep a record for posterity and for the kids to read one day. It is a tough time but a historic one too!