Finding our new normal in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown
Life feels surreal.
It incredibly strange to be so limited: in how often you can leave the house in a day, where you can go and who you can see and what you can do. Before lockdown, our days were filled to the brim with activities: the Science Centre, the museum, soft play. Music class and swimming lessons. Weekends spent exploring castles and parks and gardens. Catching up with friends. Heading out on hikes or driving to different parks and beaches to explore somewhere new. Going for brunch, coffee dates, lunches with family. Busy days were our normal.
Now we spend most of our time in our flat- I think we have spent more time in our home this week than ever before. It’s rare for us to stay in our home for an entire day, let alone an entire week. We’re all feeling a little stir crazy already, and we know that there is no end in sight.
We are trying to find our new normal. New routines that still incorporate as much of our regular lives into them as possible. We work out in the house instead of at the gym and my weekly PT session is done over Zoom. My husband and I have worked out a new schedule for working hours, with an “office” now set up in the kitchen. We have virtual “coffee dates” and “play dates” with friends. We have recreated as many of Charlotte’s activities as possible- the things she would normally do at nursery and her classes. We have designated exercise time, craft time and reading time. Outdoor time in the back garden. Time to just play and time to watch a film together- admittedly nice to share some extra downtime together. We are so thankful that we are still allowed out for a walk every day, which we do together in the evening as a family.
It’s an eerie feeling to be walking around empty streets in what is normally such a busy, buzzing, thriving neighbourhood. It’s strange to walk by all of our favourite cafes and restaurants and not be able to go inside. It’s hard to explain to a toddler why she can’t go to the library or the play park or the museum that she is so used to visiting.
It’s especially tough to explain to her why she can’t see her nana and papa or her friends face to face- she isn’t quite old enough to grasp the concept completely, but she seems to understand that there is a “bad sickness bug going around, and we need to make sure we don’t pass on any germs to anyone who might get really sick.” I’m thankful that she is used to a FaceTime relationship with my mom and dad, who live back in Canada, and that this side of things has remained the same for her. She understands that even if people aren’t in our presence, we can stay close to them. I am more thankful than I have ever been for technology: we all are.
If there’s one thing we’ve realized this week, it’s that we took a lot of things for granted before lockdown. Being able to meet friends face to face. Hugging the people we love. Roaming freely through the city, exploring the country. Walking around without worry or concern of your proximity to others. Spending entire days out of the house. Working in a coffee shop. Having help with childcare, a regular work schedule. Having places to go and people to see. And most surprisingly: just finding a little time and space to ourselves.
We’ve made it through week one, and we’ll just keep reminding ourselves that every day we get through is another day closer to lockdown being over.
Lockdown week one in photos:
*Sidenote: some of these images are taken with my professional camera (Nikon D750) and some with my phone (Huawei p20pro)- as I always say in my workshops, the best camera you have is the one you’re holding!*
