Surviving the School Holidays (Covid Edition!)

It’s always a pleasure when that last school run arrives. We finally get a break from the manic rush of school runs and get to enjoy summer with our babies in some degree.

Except this year (2020) that all went out the window for many families when Covid-19 arrived, and sadly claimed so many people, changing all of our lives.

As a parent who adores spending time with my girls of 12, 8 and 6 years old this has been a challenging time. We’ve all been pushed to our limits finding ways to keep young ones entertained and consoling our older children that we’re going to make it through this ok. It’s been hard to get across the point that this is temporary when it feels like it’s dragging on forever.

The summer holidays are normally a time when our daughters go ‘Up North’ to see their Grandparents. Spending time with my family in Northamptonshire, and time is spent on many day trips with friends and as a family. This year I find myself completely stumped and sadly very anxious over visiting anywhere that doesn’t have a capacity limit.

Only 18 school summer holidays!

I find myself remembering that we only have 18 summers with our children❗️???????? That’s probably much shorter in reality as I’m sure by the age of 14 or 15 they won’t still be coming out on day trips, and their younger years are often a blur of sleepless nights, teething and terrible two’s.

So now I’m in a situation where my younger two are at a wonderful age; everything is exciting and there’s still lots of new things to explore, and my eldest is close to reaching a time where it’ll no longer be ‘cool’ to go to a farm or zoo for the day.

So, my plan for surviving the school holidays this year is to look for the smaller moments of joy:

I’m going to breathe in every moment they ask for a snuggle.
Every giggle that slips out when one of us (normally me) does something absolutely hilarious.
I’m going to abandon those moments of seriousness.
Let them indulge in sleepovers in each others rooms at night, with sweets and popcorn and films together.
I’ll let them ignore their work completely over the summer, no catching up here because they aren’t running a race and there’s no finish line to cross.
Listen to them, everything they are saying and all those hidden fears their not.
Be absolutely ridiculous, I mean ‘mini-disco abroad when you don’t care who’s there because you’ll never see them again’ ridiculous.

And I’m going to be kind, to everyone around me that’s feeling just as clueless about how to feel and act in this bizarre and sad time, but most importantly to myself because parenthood is hard and wonderful and strange and everything in-between and being kind to yourself is the best thing we can all do.