Grateful for.....

sunshine and where we live. Our home is a two minute walk from a very wonderful huge area of open pastures, small rolling hills and two woodlands. There's plenty of space to keep away from others--the cows haven't even been let out yet. 

Our day started with some wobbles. She did her stretching and got ready, had some garden time (her new routine in lieu of school run). She had a big wobble at piano - shes not keen on the plan of having a piano lesson over zoom and is stressing about that as it's supposed to be happening on Sunday. Her time spilled over in to her bassoon morning practise so she was frustrated she didn't have the time she wanted for that. I have to work mornings now so we are quite firm in the starting working at 9am.  However it really does seem to suit her, the set routine. Mornings so far have been impressively good. Today was no exception. 

Making her own choices, she voluntarily worked for 4 hours yesterday morning. She did her school maths and writing task then set about with a research project they've been set about the Mayan civilisation. I was given a laptop about a year ago but because of this situation a friend offered to get it sorted and put our Office software on it etc so Katie can work on it. It arrived last night so she enjoyed having it to use today. She then did some more on her Matisse picture. She's really enjoyed doing it so I think we will do this every week. She decided to not do morning class today so spent that time studying. Everything for me with work takes a lot longer. Katie is being fantastic and trying really hard to be independent but still needs some guidance, support. Today we had a time together thinking about research techniques and how Wikipedia copy - paste isn't entirely useful! But work things are also taking longer because everyone else is in the same boat and unable to get things done. I read a quote from a headteacher that said "this is not homeschooling, at best this is bad distance learning. Don't try to be a teacher and be kind to yourselves. Teachers set this work in a panic. You are in a panic. We are all in survival mode and still trying to tell our bums from our elbows". It felt quite a reasonable interpretation! 

We had some lunch before we went for our permitted exercise. We did however slightly bend the rules as we did a walk, some scrambling/climbing and a run all within our single exercise time! We also picked up some lovely plants that a neighbour round the corner had put out for people to take (we of course sanitised at every stage of touching them!). I decided to do a bit of gardening since I had these to plant and got on with a fair old bit of weeding. She chose to do her repertoire practise outside with me. When she went back in she snuggled in her bed for half an hour with her Harry Potter book. Her friend facetimed her before they "did" the same ballet class together. They go to Royal together and are missing each other and that class. 

Tea after ballet then a whole load of Friends on TV. She finished off her day with some clarinet. We are keeping busy and I'm trying hard to keep patient, keep reassuring. 

Side note, after I put her to bed I went out and joined the 8om clap for the NHS. It was incredible to hear the sound building from across the town. It was quite special. I then took part in the virtual pub quiz, complete with a glass of gin, along with a load of my friends. A chap had set it up for his locals and expected about 100 people. He ended up with 160,000 across Facebook and YouTube. It was a lot of fun. He's decided to do it again next week so I urge you all to join me at 8 for a bit of fun not-together!