In the end, you have to let goand trust your own instincts, and theirs.He was confident he could, and I was confident he'd manage, but could Ibear to watch my baby, only ten years old,up thereabove me,striding through the sky? On his face, and in his movements I sawdeterminationconcentrationconfidenceand self-control. But, between the trees, above... Continue Reading →
Since my last Quarantine Diary entry, I've been rather busy. We've moved house as a family and gone through the rigmarole of enrolling the children in their brand new school and nursery. In Slovenia, schools and nurseries re-opened this week for all ages up to third grade. My eldest son was given an extra week... Continue Reading →
I must admit, this week has been something of a car crash for me. My first piece of advice to you in this 'How-not-to' of lockdown parenting would be 'Don't have PMDD;' the second 'don't invite your mother-in-law if you do.' Trials, tribulations and triggers We talk a lot about triggers these days when it... Continue Reading →
My eldest son's school have now confirmed that lessons will be taking place from home next week. In other words, I'm to be the teacher. This will present several unique challenges, namely: My son needs help with Slovenian in order to complete the lessons. I can help, but I'll be teaching myself at the same... Continue Reading →
Quick coffee and thenclean the toiletquick coffee and then wash the clothes Quick coffee andkeep everybody happyquick coffee, doas every woman does: What of my dreamsand my desireswhich would read something like this? Quick coffee andwrite poetryquick coffee and thenread all morning long: Quick coffee, kiss the childrenquick coffee, wipe their faces cleanquick coffee, try to focus... Continue Reading →
It's been used so much in the self-help world that it's become something of a cliche: the analogy of putting your own mask on first as a metaphor for self-care. However, this analogy has a special significance when it comes to recovery from alcoholism, or any other kind of addictive behaviour, particularly as this relates... Continue Reading →
Well, today is the kids' first full day at school. And after a brutally early start (they had to be at the school gate at 08:30), I have to say that I am filled with excitement and trepidation. I'm excited for them both, starting new schools in a new country; and I worry about them... Continue Reading →
My children return to school tomorrow. Or rather, start their new schools in a new land. Since they last attended, there’s been worldwide pandemic, a 3-day relocation, a new country and a new language to get to grips with. My youngest should do just fine: he’s so used to hearing different languages they merge into... Continue Reading →
I thought I'd do a lighthearted 'listicle' (!) today, to mark the fact that we Malaga residents are still in 'Phase 0' of the 0-4 stage Spanish quarantine de-escalation plan. Everyone anticipated the return of socially-distanced beer and coffee sipping on the sunny terraces of the Costa del Sol today, but alas the people at... Continue Reading →
The secret of 'Poopy Thomas' is a parenting secret. A guilty parenting secret. I'm sure as 'lockdown parents' we all have some parenting hacks. Maybe some of them we're not entirely proud of. And my parenting hack is 'Poopy Thomas.' Who is 'Poopy Thomas?' He is, in fact, Thomas the Tank Engine, but not as... Continue Reading →
