Thursday has somewhat snuck up on me this week. I have no idea where the time is going or how it is going by so fast, and yet it is. Time flies when you’re having fun, right? Does that mean I’m having fun? Finally enjoying this time? Partly, yes I think I am. Or at least I’ve accepted that this is the situation for us right now and so I ought to make the most of it.
I’ve been thinking about what to write in this blogpost over the last few days and wondering what on earth to say – worried because I’m not sure I’ve learnt anything new this week, although I’m sure I must’ve. Usually by Thursday I’ve got a whole list of notes on my phone of things I want to write about. Small things I’ve noticed, or thoughts and musings I want to voice. But this week that hasn’t happened. There are a couple of things on my list, but nothing really new. I’m wondering if it’s because this is the norm now and I have finally let go of trying to control the situation. I understand that this is how we have to live and so I’m not thinking about how it’s all affecting me as much as I was. Like I said above, I’ve accepted it. And maybe if acceptance is the only thing I’ve learnt this week then that’s not a bad thing at all.
I have learnt (and am in awe of) how well most of us can adapt, although I know this isn’t true for everyone. Luckily my children seem to have adapted unbelievably well to lockdown and I am so grateful. Maybe the three weeks in isolation that my middle one spent in a hospital room aged five have helped him to be able to handle this period of time so well. If you asked them how they were then of course they’d say that they are bored, but in reality they’re always active and always find something to do. I was lucky they wanted to go back to ‘school’ aka Pikachu Primary, and start learning again on Monday. And I’m also lucky that they get on so well. They play brilliantly together and rarely argue. Maybe that’s one plus side of sharing your life with someone who has the same rare disease as you, you become a little team. It’s lovely to watch them interact with each other and bounce off each other’s ideas. Not an ounce of competitiveness or sibling rivalry – an actual godsend at the moment. I’m also lucky that they are also very accepting of this situation. They don’t question it. Everything is very black and white for them. There’s a virus that might kill them out there so they have to stay at home. It’s that simple.
Work is still a challenge though, for both my husband and myself. He’s the breadwinner and so is the one who is locked in his bedroom/office from 8am until he emerges late afternoon, often without having had time for lunch. He’s taken a huge pay cut. He’s stressed. And so the childcare falls to me. But not just the childcare. The cooking. The cleaning. The home learning. Physio. Meds. Everything. And so my job, which I love, has taken a bit of a backburner. I was fortunate that I was able to take two weeks off over what would’ve been the Easter holidays, but now I’m meant to be back and I can’t seem to make it all fit. I only work ten hours a week, but even that is proving tricky. A routine is slowly emerging of home learning in the morning then free time in the afternoon where I can take phone calls, but I’m terrified one of the boys is going to break a bone in the garden with me watching from my office window, and so can’t focus like I should. And on top of that I find that the boundaries between work and home life are being blurred, which I usually work really hard to not let happen. I’m lucky I have awesome colleagues who are very understanding of my situation, but there is only so much they can do. We shall have to see how this one goes methinks…
On a positive I have noticed that I’ve been less anxious this week, and I think that’s mainly due to work and home-learning starting up again and me being busier generally. I’m exhausted by the end of the day, but I’m sleeping better. It’s hard because there is little time for arts and crafts and self care at the moment – the dishwasher is on at least four times a day at present (I am terrified it’s going to break down!) – and someone is always hungry or demanding something. One day I am going to count how many questions I am asked and let you know. I expect most of them will be from my husband. ‘Is there any milk?’ he asks. Why he can’t just go and look in the fridge like the rest of us I don’t know. Anyway…
Yes, I am aware I’m waffling a bit this week, but I haven’t edited this post too heavily as the waffle is a good representation of how I have been feeling. Drifting from one thing to another without much thought. Almost in a dreamlike state at times. Detached from reality. I’m forgetful, easily distracted, not really making much sense at times.
But I’m alright.
I have only cried once in the last seven days and I’ve managed to have several alcohol free evenings. The sunshine is, as always, very welcome as is the fact we have a garden we can get out into in lieu of being able to leave the house for exercise. I can lie in a lounger and imagine I’m on holiday for a bit before I remember why I’m at home for the sixth week in a row. I almost look forward to Joe Wicks in the morning and am actually able to complete a whole session now, unlike that first week when I gave up after one or two exercises. There’s a sense of calm washing over me that I’ve not felt in a long time. A release of control. A knowledge that I am doing my best.
Acceptance.