It’s a relief to be getting back to normal, Mummy. School was hard
Coping with lockdown and beyond
I’ve got Dylan (18) who now works for SSE, Lily (6) who just started P2 at Kinnoull Primary and Jasmine (3) who was meant to start nursery this week.
I’m having a career break so my main job is being a mum and family taxi service.
We spent lockdown like everybody else, living very closely and home schooling as best I could.
With my youngest, Jasmine, while I had been looking forward to her going to nursery and me having more time for myself, I didn’t feel the coronavirus measures she’d have to manage at nursery was going to be right for her, so I am keeping her back with me this year.
It will be a lot more work, but I felt the constant handwashing, with the children in small groups, having to stop what they are doing and moving ‘stations’ every few minutes, wasn’t going to be a good experience for her. Social distancing efforts are near impossible when you are three.
I thought she would have more freedom to explore at home.
My middle child, Lily, was so excited to be going back to school. As a P2 she felt she was a ‘big girl’ now, with younger ones to ‘buddy’ and help make their first start.
Kinnoull PS had a staggered start and two new composite classes.
Half went in on the Wednesday, and her half went to begin school on the Thursday, then the entire school sat down on the Friday.
Lockdown was pretty good, lots of brilliant family time but Lily missed her friends. Seeing her spy her best friend at the gate on the first day was a priceless moment.
Lily was pleased to be going back to school and wearing uniform. After six months of wearing joggers and leggings she was thrilled to have a change.
I over-bought uniform so the ‘fresh every day’ rule is not going to be a problem. They can wear outdoor shoes indoors, so that helps.
The first day I was anxious, concerned how we would keep our distance arriving at the school.
It was a big step for me, we as a family kept absolutely to the lockdown guidelines.
We stay in Gannochy, with a big garden and walks at Quarrymill nearby, so we kept very much apart.
Now here I was on day one, there was no staggered start for school, so everybody was heading for one place - yikes!
The first drop-off was a bit hectic but since then the school has tweaked things and taken measures to avoid congestion when children arrive and at home time.
The head teacher sent an email detailing new time staggering and asking parents to use separate gates for different years.
The first day, parents were all on WhatsApp, comparing how they felt.
The majority of mums were sighing with relief at the return to a degree of normality.
Lily and I walk to school which helps my goal of 10,000 steps every day.
I had been doing ‘Mummy School’ for Lily when the schools shut in March.
I found it tough, but I was able to give it the time required.
There were plenty of tears and eye-rolling from Lily.
I had to accept that she’s only six. Sometimes if she got bored, and all she wanted to do was get up and go and look at the iPad, and it’s mum who is supposed to be your teacher, it was inevitable that she stood up and did that.
Doing school at home took a lot of organisation.
Thank goodness for Tesco delivering printer paper for all the reams we needed to print. I got ink cartridges off eBay.
It’s a relief, with real school starting again, for me not to have to play ‘referee’. The children really needed a structure and that was totally up to me to set out. Yes, there’s a lot less stress now for sure.
I have more one-to-one time with Jasmine now.
I found the organisation Parent Club has been a real help. If anyone is looking for helpful tips, that’s the place online to go.
Parent Club has created a new Back to School and Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) digital hub which includes a range of FAQs on the official guidance, as well as advice from teachers and experts to help parents support their children as they transition back into school and other childcare settings.
Parents can visit parentclub.scot/startback for support.
It’s a relief, with real school starting again, for me not to have to play ‘referee’. There is a lot less stress now for sure