Lessons in keeping sane with kids

All routine flew out the window this week. And we are creatures of habit so this virus is hitting us where it hurts – especially parents of young kids.

I was already feeling sorry for myself before the schools shut. I’m turning 50 in May and planned a holiday in Easter and a big party.

But this week, with every email, came bad news of cancellations, lost money, lost jobs. My plans were shattered and my spirit. I cried.

But I better save my tears because school’s out for millions, with elderly grandparents out of reach. So we have to muddle through, working from home.

But I’ve got to try to keep calm for the sake of my kids – Zac is 11 and Amara is only eight. They left school on Friday totally confused, and I need to get my act together before it turns to anxiety and stress.

I know if I don’t come up with a structure, there’s a real danger I’ll be putting gin in my coffee cup.

So I have got my battle plan... Kitchen class

OK, my house is now a school until who-knows-when. But Mrs Khan can’t handle books and pencils all over the place.

So I’m going to use the dining table as the study area so I can keep an eye on them, and their bedrooms can be a place to escape. Timetables

Work life goes on for me and my husband Steve and we need to do our jobs as well as be teachers.

So I have created a timetable for the family so we can all be working and taking breaks at the same time. I want the kids to feel a sense of togetherness. United in madness.

And there is plenty of life admin – downloading photos, deleting 12,000 emails. Things I’ve not got round to because of a lack of time. No excuse now, is there?

Making a meal of it

Old routines are out but we can get into better habits – and that includes eating together as a family.

Apart from Sundays, we rarely do that but now we can do breakfast, lunch and evening meal. No afterschool club, gym or back-fromwork-late excuses.

Mummy and Daddy will also take it in turns to cook and the kids can judge the best meal of the day. The only way my hubby is going to do his bit is if I turn it into a competition. Keep moving PE and after-school sport clubs keep my two active. So I’ll get them out on their bikes.

I’ll make use of the garden too, with weeding and planting. They can grow stuff inside – planting seeds and growing them on a windowsill. I hope we don’t have beanstalks by the times school reopens.

Time out

The kids need their “me time” – to escape to their bedrooms and just chill.

We are in this together for the long haul and when it ends, we need to make sure we still have our mental health intact – and we still like each other.

I am going to take advantage of this time to actually be with my kids and husband.

Because among all the doom and gloom, the one thing that has got me through is focusing my mind on gratitude.

I have never in my life been so grateful for my little family.

Let’s hope I still feel that way in a month...