4) What is something you learned about your
children?
Vanessa:
o I learned
just how much they are capable of; how much they can learn, how they
look on the bright side of things, how they take care of one another, and how
they are always trying to be positive during this scary time.
Rebecca:
o
Music (preferably Mickey Mouse
Clubhouse soundtrack) makes Winnie very happy, she also has some cool dance
moves like her Mum.
o Tilly has
found a new love for horses, seeing how animated and happy she gets while
talking about them is heartwarming. Lessons have begun!
Clarissa:
o Chloe has
developed a great sense of humour.
o Stella
likes to create things from arts and craft to cooking.
Jane:
o Bart’s
loathing for (the wearing of) sunhats is pure.
o Unfortunate,
given my son's very fair complexion and his insistence on applying sunscreen by
himself. Fortunate, given that where we are presently based, sun is a
rarefied – almost mythical - commodity.
5) What is something you learned about
yourself?
Vanessa:
o I am the
worst teacher!
o And I need
silence and alone time to recharge (which is a hard thing to come by with 3
kids and two dogs).
Rebecca:
o Motherhood
can be so hard, kids come with many challenges, and the world is such a
different place right now. I’ve
learned that it is important to be honest and open about how you are
feeling, it is ok to want time to yourself (getting it might be a slightly
different story) and that I am tough (Dad taught me that 😁).
Clarissa:
o How
important and rewarding practicing meditation twice daily is
Jane:
o That I
possess no talent for hairdressing. Especially the perilous pursuit of
hairdressing for one year old boys.
6) What is the funniest thing the kids
did/said during this time?
Vanessa:
o Andrew
joining Mark on his important zoom calls by dancing in the background and
refusing to leave!
Rebecca:
o Winnie
grabbing her microphone and singing Daisy Daisy (while swaying, with eyes
closed).
o Despite
coming in the last group of her cross-country race, Tilly triumphantly
finished the race with a smile and style like Usain Bolt. Chariots of Fire had to be the theme song.
Clarissa:
o Chloe
wanted to take off a day off e-learning and thought a good excuse would be to
email her teacher and tell them she had coronavirus.
o Stella
developed a fascination with watching Property TV shows and critiquing
people's choice and interior design tastes
Jane:
o Despite
being just one, our son is what commonly would have been referred to as being a
‘real boy’ before the world woke up. He is most attracted to things that
outdated stereotypes prescribe; his preference is for dirt, sausage rolls,
rugby balls, footballs and trucks, cars, buses, tractors, cranes. He is especially enamored by his Grandfather’s
Land Rover which happens to live where we are also living presently, in the
north of England. Most mornings (and actually most afternoons) rain, hail
or shine he will run out to the car and yell “Vroom! Vroom! Vroooooom!!” whilst
pointing lovingly and urging us desperately to hoist him up to the lofty
heights of this light artillery vehicle. If we refuse - all hell breaks
loose. Extracting him is another
frightening fiasco altogether - it's actually the only thing that sends our otherwise
very cheery boy absolutely berserk. He would - I’m quite sure -
happily commit to living permanently in this car if presented with the option, and
I have no doubt whatsoever where his allegiances would lie if forced to choose
between me and that car!
All families are different. Here is Nikki with just a few of her amazing
animal family.
Well, there you have it. Our wonderful families, in different parts of
the world, making the most of this challenging time of CoVid-19. Missing them all and patiently waiting for
the time we can give them all a big hug!
Trudy and Kevin
