MUM CAN NOW HELP US WITH CHILDCARE!
ALISON HAYHURST, 72, is a retired magistrate from Harpenden, Herts. she was reunited with her granddaughters Florence, ten, and isabella, six, and daughter katie Clark, 41, a market researcher.
ALISON SAYS: ‘I’ve not stopped trembling since I’ve been reunited with my family and it’s a little overwhelming. I’m very happy but also still very worried about the virus.
‘I’ve found lockdown tough, particularly the sense of loneliness. I’d come to terms with being on my own since my husband died eight years ago but I’ve missed my family terribly. They’ve visited as often as possible — but stayed a good 10 ft away — and the girls have kept sending me paintings and messages. But it’s the physical contact I’ve missed.
‘I didn’t want to worry Katie because I know she and her husband are so busy with work. I’m very relieved to be with them again.
‘We’ve kept in touch via Zoom and FaceTime but now I’m able to give them all hugs. The biggest challenge for me now will be to remember I’m not allowed to give other people hugs and that we still have to remain in this social bubble.
‘But I’m looking forward to being able to come to the house more and help out with the childcare. Granny School opens next week and we’ll be doing painting and reading — but we don’t particularly enjoy maths!
KATIE SAYS: ‘Mum moved from Southport, Merseyside, to a lovely flat in Harpenden only last year so she could be nearer to us. It was a big wrench for her leaving all her friends but we’re very close and it meant we would see her regularly. Then lockdown happened.
‘We’ve tried keeping in touch via Zoom but it’s been really hard to find much time because my husband and I have been working full-time, as well as home-schooling the girls. We’ve been to Mum’s flat a few times and spoken to her at a socially-safe distance. We visited her on Flo’s tenth birthday and she’s been in our garden a couple of times. But she’s found it tough, particularly if the girls tripped or hurt themselves and she couldn’t go over and hug them.
‘When the Prime Minister made the announcement about lockdown easing, the girls rang their grandma immediately. She hadn’t heard and had no idea they would be able to meet this weekend for hugs.
‘Now we’re back together and the girls are thrilled. They’ve given her so many squeezes and we’re all really relieved that not only can we see her properly but she can also come into the house. She’s been bored and lonely in her flat on her own and now she can come over whenever she likes. And it’s also wonderful that she can help out with childcare again!