Diary of a family in quarantine #12

The impact of this second lockdown continues to ripple through lives.
Like so many other families, Lisa and Tim McLure of Smiths Beach are again grappling with home schooling #2, with Angus, 10, in grade four at Cowes Primary and Evie, six, in grade one.
Border restrictions also mean they have some new house guests.

“Last lockdown we got our new ragdoll cat, Eric. This lockdown we got two humans and a dog.

Our neighbours were supposed to move to Sydney this week for a new business. When their lease finished they were homeless, because they couldn’t get over the border, and so they put out an SOS. We have a studio apartment downstairs and so they’re living with us until they can go north. We’re always taking someone in. Once it was a couple of Argentinian backpackers, then there was a girl in her 20s who needed a place, and not so long ago some Italians.

Luckily Eric and our dog Audrey get on with their Staffy Solly.

Eric is so naughty, he likes to swing off our pendant light.

Aside from that we’re settling into a routine. Home schooling this time round is definitely better than the first lockdown.

Last time we would run around trying to figure it out and find things. But this time – I suppose because we’ve had that trial and error – it’s much easier and free-flowing. That’s what I’m hearing from others too. We know what it’s all about this second lockdown and also partners have got on board.

Tim now has Mondays off work while I go into the salon for the day. Both our employers have been great in letting us work around home schooling.

The kids, too, have been fine going into it. It doesn’t bother them because we’ve been here before, whereas the first time round we were a wreck. Angus says he loves home schooling because he’s close to the fridge. They miss their friends though.

For me it is also so much easier. I’m coping much better this time around. Last time I was swinging off a wine bottle, but now I’m not drinking I’m much more clear-headed every morning. Now when I’m not coping with home schooling, I exercise.

Having said that I have to re-invent the wheel every day to get the kids motivated. They seem to take it in turns messing with my brain and by Friday night I want to pull my eyeballs out.

One day I put a giant cookie in the middle of the table and told them that if they got all their work done at the end of the day they could have half each. Then the next day it was $10 each. Then I realised it’s not good to teach them they will get a reward for doing something they should be doing anyway.

The first lockdown I was concerned they were slipping behind. It’s not just six weeks but this time a total of 12 weeks out of the school year. But they’re smart little things, even though they pretend not to be.

Cowes Primary has been fantastic, telling us when to turn up and get packs for their schoolwork. With maths and spelling we’re much more on to it this time.

Getting them to exercise every day is also a challenge, especially if they’re on their iPad. One day they joined me for a personal training session in the studio, the next day was beautiful so we went surfing, but then the next day Angus had a fit when I suggested a bike ride.

The worst part for me about the second lockdown is that this week I was meant to be in Newcastle to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday.

He’s disappointed we’re not there, but he told me he won’t turn 70 this year. He’s putting it on hold because 2020 is not really a year. So he’ll stay 69 until we can get up there.

As horrible as Coronavirus is for health care workers, and many are doing it tough, I kind of like having the kids around. I’m enjoying it. Yes you can sit around being grumpy about it all, but for me, if it means having more time with my family, I’m happy.”