It’s been quite a while since I’ve written a personal blog, just because life and other things have taken over.

In a house with three school-age children, the start of lockdown took a bit of adjusting to. There are five of us, a Labrador, a guinea pig and two hamsters in our three bedroomed house. Ordinarily, it’s not until late evening that we are all in together, with work, school, clubs and so forth pulling us all in different directions.

With the start of lockdown, it was like someone had hit pause. Suddenly we were all home, and we all had time together. The days stretched out long and empty before us, and we could establish our daily rhythms and routines. I’ll confess (except for not being able to see close family members, which was very hard) it was lovely to just be for a moment.

During this time we played together, ate dinner together at a reasonable time every day, and chatted about all sorts, as a family. We learnt new ways to keep my eighty-two-year-old mum company with online chats and talking to her through her window. My nine-year-old son started growing vegetables. My teenager made daisy chains, picked up knitting again and got creative, while my usually sporty daughter devoured books and had time to cook (something she really enjoys).  And I did scavenger hunts via Facetime with my two gorgeous grandchildren – who I still can’t wait to hug again. We also joined neighbours in clapping for the NHS.

Of course, I am aware that this time of hitting pause, isn’t the case for everyone and I know how fortunate we’ve been to have each other for company, and to have been together while others have been sick, lost loved ones, and been at the front line working in hospitals. My son has asthma and so until it was deemed safe, five weeks ago, I was unable to go into the school I work in. I’m hugely grateful to all teachers who have worked throughout, healthcare workers and those who have kept businesses going.

And I don’t want people to think we’ve taken lockdown as a holiday. Thomas Towers, as my eldest likes to call our house, has been busy.

Yes, I am a teacher, but writing is also a job. If you’ve ever tried it, you’ll know it is not nearly as easy as it sounds to put eighty to a ninety thousand words down in the right order, so that by the end you have a story that will entertain and hold readers throughout. And so beavering away, often in our van, I am proud of the fact that in this time I have finished two books. A novel and a Christmas children’s book – both of which were started before lockdown, I hasten to add (I’m not superwoman, haha). 

Here’s a sneak peek at the Children’s book, coming in September. I have also illustrated this one which was quite therapeutic and an escape from thinking during lockdown, too.

As well as this, despite his school not sending work (they suggested daily reading and times tables), I’ve homeschooled my son with English, Maths, and another Curriculum subject every single school day since lockdown started, because I deemed it important. Nine-thirty until two-thirty has been ‘school’ time. He’s been the perfect pupil, keeping me on my toes and thoroughly entertained. And I’ve worked on things that always bugged me when I looked at his school books – the joys of having a teacher as a mum. 

At the start of lockdown, a love of paper aeroplanes inspired DT, Maths, English and Science. Excuse the lockdown hair, though this was back when it was short, you should see it now!

Supported by work sent by the school they attend, my girls have kept studying too. My teenager has worked incredibly hard as she’s in year ten and will be taking her GCSEs next year. And my twelve year old has done the same, completing school work with a great attitude, as well as entertaining her younger brother during breaks and after ‘school’. 

I’m immensely proud of them all. We haven’t had a single tantrum, or refusal to get up and get on, albeit that the girls have had the flexibility to work at times that suit them. The house has been calm and relaxed as everybody found the rhythm of what worked for them. Of course, the children have been affected by what’s gone on, they’ve missed their big sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew terribly. They miss seeing, and hugging, their nanny, auntie (who has delivered amazing food parcel treats to the door), and other grandparents. And they’ve missed their friends.

So now, things are changing again, my twelve-year-old is at football training once more; my teenager has school appointments with teachers, and is horse-riding again. I am back at work, leaving my husband as a supply teacher to our son, while I go in two days a week. He is doing OK delivering the work I have left, though I asked him to mark more neatly – this homeschool has standards 😉 And we can start seeing other family members and friends which is lovely, though still from a distance. 

Life is getting busier again, and I want to hang on to my babies, I want to hold on to our precious time together. It will be strange letting them go again. We still have family dinner together every night, I hope it lasts, but as September comes around and more time pressures are introduced we’ll have to see how that works. I hope as life gets fuller, we remember what is precious and continue to find the positives from what has been, and continues to be, an extraordinary time in history.