BY GEORGINA BROADBENT
Just Shutters Surrey
2021 could be the year that British parents become the most talented multi-taskers on the planet. Either that, or we learn to accept life’s challenges with good grace, adjust our expectations accordingly and be kinder to ourselves. Whichever way the cookie crumbles, I keep reminding myself that there will be enormous personal growth from this situation. There must be a silver lining right?
As I type this I am surrounded by chaos. The sort of pandemonium that only a home-schooling parent could possibly understand. On one side of me my 8-year-old is filming a video about the earth’s axis around the sun, whilst on the other side my 7-year-old is working on maths and his 5 times tables.
But hey, I am only trying to finalise the quarterly management accounts for our business, Just Shutters Surrey, so it’s not like I need to concentrate or anything.
Home schooling is tough, and I am most definitely not a natural teacher. We are only on week two and the term stretches before me as the ultimate test of my patience and resilience. Speaking to other parents reveals that there are so many different circumstances and complications, with no two stories the same, however, one thing binds and unites us. No one seems to be finding this particularly easy.
So, what wisdom can I draw from the situation and share with you? To get through the overwhelming amount of work being set by the school and meet the demands of running the business, at the single busiest time of year, you really do need a sense of humour.
I look for opportunities for learning in the most unexpected places and I grab them all with both hands. We make fractions out of slicing cakes and practice French colours whilst doing face painting. It is just your average Wednesday evening when you find yourself speaking to customers in full dragon face-paint!
In our house, life skills are as prized as academic achievements; making the bed, tying shoelaces, and changing a lightbulb have all featured on our home-schooling timetable.
Take a break when, or if, you can. Exercise is a great way to destress whether you are a fan of a dog walk, a weights session, a run, or an online Pilates class. Your body and your mind will thank you for it. But the single biggest piece of advice I can offer is to be kind to yourself.
We are not the professionals, but my goodness, haven’t we all found a higher level of respect for those talented and patient individuals that are teachers! When the schools reopen promise me you won’t forget this time and will share your gratitude with them.