When the Cat has more rights to roam - Lockdown Week One

So, I am writing this on Sunday 29th March 2020, so cast yourself back to whatever you were doing (or not doing) and reminisce of the weekend. Ahhh are we in the zone. I hope week two is going well for you all. Please note this is supposed to be a little light hearted and fun, British survival humour and all that jazz. But if your lives are touched by sorrow right now, then I send my love to you.

So a week in, we have adapted, and as far as I know, we have all survived (please see accompanying new lyrics to that song!). Huzzah for us!

To the tune of “I will survive”

At first I was afraid, I was petrified,

The thought of homeschooling with a toddler, made me terrified

But, them the text message came along, telling me to stay inside so long

And I broke down

And I cried and cried

So this is it

Time to adapt

Get my big girl panties on, pull them up and all of that

There are toys just everywhere, and I lost the will to care

But we’ll plod on, yes I know this road seems long

Find a way through, oh yes we do

Embrace the world now

Though it is strange and it is new,

Thanks amazon, you are still delivering too,

Though I think my booklist

I never will get through,

And so week one, we have survived

A few tantrums and moodiness, as we all stay inside

We’re a family pulling through

And so can you and you and you,

It lucky we can all drink and no one has to drive!

In the lines of the more established writers in our street Mr G at Cell Number X, I write from Cell NumberY. The house of the Babbits. In case you are wondering they are sampling the longer grass of the garden out back, we would be able to stew ample amounts of mice (provided by our cat Holly) before the need for any other meat. Thankfully supermarkets are restocking and my kids are fussy eaters! I did wonder at one point whether they might have to actually eat the non nugget part of a chicken! 😆 My youngest mostly has lived on flapjacks this week, but that is another story.

So a week in, I have completely given up on the idea that my house will actually be clean and tidy for even 30 minutes during this period. Missy K being single minded in purpose, decided to bring the ball pit out on Tuesday night. This resulted in (as predicted) my lounge being covered with a load of pastel balls. As we played throwing practice, aka tidying up, my eldest decided to set up a shop in the dining room. As he was off a screen and being creative I felt I could say nothing. So as fast as my lounge became semi-habitable again, we lost the use of the dining room floor and table. That said, it was a great shop; Mama loves a bargain and saving the pennies keeps Daddy happy - win win. No, toilet roll though before any one asks!

We have adjusted to home schooling with a demanding toddler. This mostly involves swap the child! For those without the little feet in the home, I wonder how life is like for you?

My biggest adjustment was to the NHS text informing me that I was categorised as “extremely vulnerable”. It has been a lot to digest but has some perks, I now have my own personal Throne Room (Downstairs loo). Which means after a decade, I actually get to go toilet and close the door, no interruptions, a clean seat every time - oh the bliss ☺️. I am starting to love the space so much, I have even begun to paint it today. Though I am not sure if my Dulux (other brands are available) is going to make it and whether it is an essential need when you get to the last brushstroke of paint. Since none of us can go to a shop, it is another pointless question. Like the ones that my head asks a lot at 2am! I am excited to get creative in the space, and my husband is more excited that I cannot purchase anything to accomplish this 😂.

Everyday I get handy hints in text from the NHS Coronavirus Service. So I not only get my own loo, I also get to sleep in the “nursery”. As it happens that is one of my favourite room is the house, as it is so calming. This means I also get no child in my bed. I do miss the little body tucked up to mine, but I do ever so slightly relish having a whole pillow for my head. Silver linings!

For the sake of my husbands sanity I have abandoned the advice to “keep away from children.” Though after enduring my husbands nine week recovery from spinal surgery, I think a two week vacation would have been fair. I had envisaged a beach and sunshine not lockdown though! That said, we mustn’t pass by the beautiful sunshine this week. It has been lovely to have the kids out in the garden and actually using the toys.

So adjusting to life as a house-cat, with limited rights to roam. As the week draws to a close, I feel a sense of accomplishment, school work nearly all been completed: we have spent more time as a family, without feeling we need to be out somewhere or busy doing something beyond what we have in the house or garden. For me mental health is an important factor to balance in my quarantine; I have managed to meditate and take time for self care. I never knew you could meditate with a toddler on your lap! * I have completed two beginners HIIT session with Mr Joe Wicks, possibly a bit too eager. I have utterly confirmed that I would never survive a full hour of HIIT at the gym, as supected. But after starting to get envious of the runners going past my window, I needed to try something new. Though I should take it back a level as I think I could happily have bathed in Deep Heat yesterday - oopsi. If I was out, you would now be grateful for that social distancing!

So, this week has been about trying to embrace the new world and the change to life as we knew it. In a world where we have seen panic shoppers and shopping fuelled by greed, rather than need it has been so good to see the other, brighter and kinder side of human nature. This week complete strangers have bought my food for my family and me. I’ve spoken to more people in the local area by messaging than ever before. So I’ve been maintaining old connections as well as making some new. It has been different for me to rely on the kindness of others, it is touching, beautiful and humbling all in one. Stay safe, stay sane and take care. If the Editor like this piece, you might get another instalment!

* For those with Facebook, I highly recommend Jay Shetty. He is doing 20 days of meditation and you can just start from day one or pick up with the current day.

A good website for mental health: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/