That’s it, the festive season is over for another year. Christmas presents have been opened and explored. I’ve celebrated my 28th birthday (again) and the New Year bells have chimed. A quieter Christmas and New Year than usual – but I think we can all agree that there was nothing normal about 2020. However, our little family made the most of the time we had together over the festive season and ate too much whilst life in lockdown continued.
Working parent guilt
The days between the schools closing their doors for Christmas and the big day itself are usually filled with last-minute shopping, days out, family film nights and time spent at home doing Christmas activities. This year I had late shifts every day leading up to Christmas Eve with a full day shift on Christmas Eve itself. Add into this What The Dad Said working early/day shifts it meant that the first day of the school Christmas holidays we were all together was Christmas Day.
Leaving us both with a bad case of working parent guilt. Not something that we were able to change and as we need to juggle childcare between us it is the only way to coordinate our work patterns. Whilst we couldn’t necessarily head out and about with the children it did make me feel as though we had failed them in some way.
Christmas
With no plans to socialise with others over the festive season we were unaffected by the last-minute change of plans to only allow visitors on Christmas Day. A quiet Christmas Day and Boxing Day at home, with presents exchanged, unwrapped and enjoyed. Turkey and gammon cooked and served with a whole plate full of roast goodies. Time spent snuggled on the sofa in new PJ’s watching family films whilst eating sweet treats – who needs to go out when you have all that at home.
Tier 4 restrictions
Boxing Day saw Norfolk move from Tier 2 to Tier 4 COVID-19 restrictions. Not something I hadn’t already anticipated after seeing the local figures and a necessary step to help prevent the spread of infection. Although working in a supermarket it’s interesting to see the different types of people who are taking the precautions seriously and those who aren’t quite so bothered by it all.
A lack of social distancing, shopping in groups, not wearing masks correctly etc. Just a few of the observations whilst I fill the shelves during my shift. Don’t get me started on the number of cars on the roads and those travelling so they can enjoy a trip to the beach, a walk in the woodlands etc.
Stay home, stay safe, protect the NHS
A twixmas birthday
Given everything that has happened in 2020, being a moaning myrtle on my birthday was one thing I could control. Whilst I don’t necessarily look forward to my birthday celebrated in that awkward time between Christmas and New Year. This year I opted for a more positive viewpoint of the day, having fun with the children whilst I opened my birthday cards and gifts. An afternoon shift at work before grabbing a Pizza Hut takeaway on the way home for my birthday teatime treat.
New Year
What The Dad Said worked a late shift on New Year’s Eve which meant that we only had around an hour or so before the New Year bells chimed. Opting to snuggle on the sofa and watch an old movie before listening to the fireworks being set off around us. It’s been a long time since we really did anything special for New Year’s Eve and truth be told I’d much rather stay home in my pyjamas and snuggle on the sofa.
Preparing for back to school
There are lots of opinions around whether the children should be returning to school tomorrow. With Tigger and Piglet all set to return to primary school, whilst Roo will be home learning until the 18th as the high school is preparing for mass COVID-19 testing. Piglet is looking forward to heading back to see her friends which will be nice for her.
Am I worried? Yes – but as we are both keyworkers there is a chance that they would still attend even if the schools closed. We are just going to take things day by day, week by week and see how things go.
