Today we let Daddy have a lie in. It’s been so tricky to contain and occupy the kids in the house and for him to concentrate. He’s had a big bit of focused work to do for a few days and he used the quiet time when we were all sleeping to get it done. That did mean I was on duty for breakfast when James asked for Daddy’s special volcano toast. I frantically scoured our Google photos for a visual example so I could copy. Alas, I could not find it. But thankfully Genevieve was able to rescue me and she explained how I made it. Needless to say it was a big hit and I survived to make the second slice – a train and tunnel. The fact that I had to justify to James why there were no wheels on the train is just harsh. I will remind him of this in the future when he has kids of his own.
After breakfast both kids were engrossed in iPad games/learning so I was able to leave them to it while I popped to the bakery. Definitely a life goal moment when your local bakery knows you buy name! It’s so nice to have fresh bread – especially when our usual bread of choice (medium Warburtons in the grease-proof paper) is currently impossible to get hold of.
At 11am I chaired my first virtual team meeting with my work colleagues. It was so nice to see them all and to chat face to face (albeit via a video link).
This smoothly led onto lunch time. Genevieve’s English marked task for the week was to write a set of instructions. She had expressed interest in writing how to make a salami sandwich. So, I dutifully laid out all the items she would need to complete this process. We talked through the stages and she began construction. It went well so you can imagine my dismay when we started to complete said writing task after lunch and she refused to document this. She had decided she wanted to write how to draw a rainbow instead. This small and fairly simple task turned into the challenge of my day. It was definitely akin to getting blood out of a stone. However, we succeeded and in addition managed to complete the maths facts challenge (also due today) and submitted them both. Hurrah!
While I was trying to extract blood out of said stone, James was doing some lovely ordering and sticking on sheets and had been practising holding his pen correctly to write his name. However, he had swiftly completed all said tasks (yes, Genevieve took this long), and so was plugged into the iPad with headphones and plonked on the sofa. Best babysitter EVER!
At this point in the day, I felt some PE was necessary so James and I set up a ball throwing activity in the living room. The basis was very complicated. Throw ball-pond balls into one of the 4 boxes we set out. James did so well – once he had mastered throwing them into the air and not along the floor. His face every time he or I got one in was pure amazement! It was awesome.
By this time it was 4.30pm – Grandma Lindsey phone call time. Today’s call involved a game of Guess Who she had kindly posted to us that had arrived that day. Genevieve had a great time and did well. James struggled but, never fear, Grandma is here! She swiftly adapted the game to suit him better which meant I could continue to make our dinner.
I did something today I have never done before – I followed a dance workout video at home. It was definitely sweat inducing and fun but I was glad to be doing it behind a closed door in the bedroom. My coordination is something akin to an octopus on roller skates. Highly embarrassing, which is why the club exercise dance classes that happen in the dark are a favourite of mine in the “normal world”.
Thursday was done and the kids were put to bed. Time to sort all the planning for tomorrow and chill out – oh, and eat our dinner! This working/educating/mum/everything else combined role is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
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