Life under the Covid-19 lockdown for parents!

First, let’s offer thanks and gratitude to all the key workers, in the health sector and all other vital industries not just in the UK but all across the world.

Secondly, I should emphasize that everybody’s situation is different. I am not complaining about our situation; to borrow some well-used 6 Group phrases, “it is what it is” and we “keep calm and carry on”.

What I would say is that while in lockdown, I would love to do what many others up and down the country are doing. I would love to volunteer and help in my local community. I would love to go out exercising once a day, as allowed under terms of our lockdown. I would also love to finally read those books piling up on my shelf…… but I will be doing none of this, unfortunately.

Why can’t you, I hear you ask????

Well the reason, he is called Ewan, my delightful 19month old little boy. Yes, I am blaming him, well not entirely but let me explain.

Under normal circumstances, spending time at home with the delightful wee man would be fantastic, it still is, up to a point. However, both my wife and I are trying to do full-time jobs while keeping a toddler entertained, fed, watered and generally out of harm’s way. For example, I am writing this, one-handed, cuddling an unhappy Mr Tumble watching Ewan while my wife is on the phone with a customer trying to save their business.

Again I am not complaining! I know people are going through a lot tougher times than us right now and believe me we have been through tougher times than this. I just want to set the scene for those with no kids or have maybe forgotten just how much focus and attention toddlers demand.

Our shift pattern starts when we get up at 5.30am and ends around 10pm. We begin by agreeing on a timetable of work and Ewan watching for the day. When our calls clash, we have a slightly stressed passive-aggressive “discussion” about whose call is more important. We muddle through until Ewan’s tea time, then it’s bath & bed, cook our dinner, do some more work, a quick tidy and then off to bed only to get up at 5.30am to go again.

What about the weekends? Well at the weekend we catch up on the cleaning, laundry and tidying which is impossible to get done during the week, maybe go for a walk to get some fresh air and then fitting in more work.

Again, please don’t think I am complaining about this. I just want to point out what it is like to work full time and provide childcare to a demanding toddler who needs constant supervision.

This leaves precisely no time to help out in our local community or do what others are doing and read books, get fit or generally enjoy this unexpected time at home with the family.

I am not asking you to feel sorry for us, not in the slightest, I just want to explain why some people working full time with kids at home are working hard just to tread water right now.

Now it’s nearly my time for time work so I must go.