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Secret Homeschooler: 'Half term could be the last week of the quiet simple life'

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Wearing a face mask, taking hand gel everywhere and maths at the kitchen table have all become part of everyday life during the pandemic.

Over the next few weeks we'll hear about the highs and lows of the virtual classroom from our secret homeschooler.

Homeschooling can take a break next week during half term
Homeschooling can take a break next week during half term

This week has definitely been different to all the others in the secret homeschooler household - it finally snowed.

It feels like it's been a long time coming after numerous weather warnings and predictions of some of the white stuff which never materialised.

Perhaps that just made the children even more excited and appreciative when it did happen.

The result? Well never before in the history of the world has a child being homeschooled completed their work so unbelievably quickly.

The work, however, was done to the absolute bare minimum standard.

This was to ensure maximum time and effort was put in to getting every pair of gloves in the entire house wet and dirty in a matter of minutes in an attempt to get enough snowballs made and piled up in rows for the imminent onslaught against one's sibling.

The children certainly enjoyed the snow this week
The children certainly enjoyed the snow this week

As a parent I wasn't aware I needed to educate my children in how to ensure the snowball fight remained outside the house - sigh.

Foolishly, I didn't prepare rules and explain them before hand.

Note to self - never assume knowledge.

It turns out I was also one of 'those' parents who didn't have a sledge. Epic fail.

Lessons were finished very quickly in order to enjoy snowball fights
Lessons were finished very quickly in order to enjoy snowball fights

So, as we head towards the end of the week, my initial thoughts are of relief that we can take a break from the lessons.

Then reality sets in - what on earth are we going to do?

No soft play centres, the Dockyard is shut, some outdoor play facilities have also been closed because people weren't socially distancing.

Where will we take our children? What will we do?

But, after all this time of various lockdowns and restrictions, I think I'm going to be ok with it. We seem to have adjusted to a rather simple way of life of not doing much at all.

Since Christmas we have been so busy with working from home, children being homeschooled and keeping on top of housework that it will be nice to just relax and not do as much next week.

Our art and design this week
Our art and design this week

We won't rush around. We'll have lazy starts to the day and enjoy the simple things again like going for a walk or playing in the garden.

And the children can spend time playing with their own toys that they've probably forgotten they even had.

This time last year we were always somewhere else, seeing other people and doing different activities.

And while we all desperately hope this will soon be over, I do remember what life was like before, and it involved a lot of rushing.

This half term could well be the last week of the quiet simple life.

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