Dawn's Dry Arch Blog - Week 11
Lock Down Low Down Week 11
This has been a week of big questions and deep conversations with a seven-year-old – always fun (if you know the answers!)
Question numero uno: Mum why are clouds different colours? some are white and fluffy, and some are grey!
Being extremely interested in this observation I volleyed the question back with the speed of Andy Murray. Why do you think they are different colours Haribo?
Well Momma I think that the white fluffy clouds are happy, and the grey ones are angry thunder clouds.
Now that is what I am talking about, a teachable experience. I jump right on it trying to keep the excitement in my voice at a non-spooking level.
So, what kind of cloud are you Haribo?
“I am both” he replies. I am in awe of the wisdom of children. That is incredibly wise Harry I say. I always think during the day we change from white fluffy clouds to grey thunder clouds and all the clouds in between and that’s ok. The important thing is to always try to aim to get back to being a happy fluffy cloud. Maybe we need to be thunder clouds for a spell to understand what it feels like to be a happy cloud. (I was on a roll).
This gorgeous exchange between Mother and seriously cute son ended abruptly with the words “okay stop talking Momma, your turning me into a daylong thunder cloud”.
I’m not always right, its my flaw. I know many useless facts that I hope will come in useful at some point. However, I been blessed with a new human boy fact corrector that follows me around the house shouting “FACTS TIME, time to learn Momma”. Its as joyous and annoying as it is informative.
Is a Pterodactyl a dinosaur? You think the answer is yes right? “NO, FACTS TIME” – It’s a flying Lizard!
An extremely long “FACTS TIME” explanation was the one on how crocodiles are hatched girls or boys depending on the heat of the sand they are in!
It’s been like Groundhog Day, every day the same and we’ve been doing it for twelve weeks now. The only thing that stands out from each day is the happiness and the joy we can take from those little moments of family life. These will be the things that we and our children will remember from this historic strange time. It won’t be the time spent apart; it will be the time that we all strived to be together. As parents this is the longest period we have spent with our children.
A lovely piece I read this week from Miriam Gwynne @ Faithmummy says:
“You have protected, nourished, educated, supported and entertained your children during a period of national and international uncertainty and fear. You have experienced emotions for yourself and your family that you never knew existed, never mind experienced before. No wonder you are exhausted!
You are AMAZING! You have achieved something no other parent ever has! You have faced 12 weeks unable to take your children anywhere, 6 weeks of no parks, holidays to break up the boredom, no day trips, no family to help. On top of that you have juggled work demands, loneliness on a level never experienced before, information overload from the internet and emotional turmoil of not being able to see people you hold dear. Even getting food has been a major hassle.
Its ok to be so very tired, 12 weeks is a long time. But you have made it. Be proud and stand tall. History will show you for your courage, your children will remember this as a time knowing they were safe and loved.”
I will personally remember it as a time to reset, to focus on my children their happiness and their needs. I will remember how proud I am to be part of The Dry Arch Sure Start Team and how the kindness of people and community brought us together in an incredibly special way.
So, for now we remain a home in a more relaxed lockdown, dipping our toe into a new normality and loving each other through it (mostly!).
D X
