Writings by me

One of the unexpected upsides to lockdown, a lockdown lesson if you will, is the impetus it has given me to carve the magic into everyday life.

In the throes of the first lockdown, when every day was the same, novelty and quality time became extremely important to ensuring everyone’s sanity. Each day became synonymous with something different; we had Puzzle Tuesday, Picnic Wednesday, Film Friday and Game Night Saturday. We also threw in the occasional Disney Day, to mix things up.

Having these days to look forward to gave us focus, even if frivolous, and broke up the week. They also made us spend quality, intentional time together dusting off the rainy-day puzzles and games and creating magical memories that will be, for me, the resounding memory of the first lockdown.

Going back to normal and those things feel a lot harder to make happen. I mean sure we can do puzzles on a Tuesday and games on a Saturday but as lives resume their hectic chaos, back to stricter bedtime routines, and socialising with anyone and everyone at weekends (up to the rule of six of course) there is less need for ritual.

Film Friday is the one we have held on to and weekend bakes is one I am keen to introduce if only as a halfway house to ensure I abolish my current one-bakery-treat-per-day rule.

So I’ve been thinking more about how we can recapture that magic now we are post-lockdown, emerging into the ‘new normal’ (which actually feels pretty similar to pre-pandemic times in some respects). So now it has become less about rituals and more about spontaneity; market visits for mac ‘n’ cheese, visits to the new flapjack shop after school and the most recent one, the slumber party we had on Saturday.

The thought of us all piling into bed together and sleeping has often seemed a near impossibility. It was a particularly sleepy Saturday so felt like the right time to try. Going into it, I knew the success rate was highly unlikely…after stories, kisses, milk and cuddles, we settled in together, Harry in the middle and…woke up on Sunday morning. It was bliss. Now I know this was likely a one-off but even if it was, I don’t care. The magic of it, the warmth, the dozing, the snuggles, well it’s what we became parents for.