The National Security Council decided to enter phase 2 in the de-confinement since yesterday 18th of May. This means that we are able to ALMOST resume our life as before: shop in other than grocery stores, go to hair dressers, market and gym. Except that it is not life as before. Wearing a mask is obligatory in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre when going to a store (I finally finished ours!), keeping the security distance and des-infecting hands. Another important change did not take place: the kids school has decided to stay on distance-learning until end of the school year. I am relieved. It would have been impossible to follow the security guidelines in a school of 3000 students. Above all, home-schooling works well. It is hugely demanding for us parents, but I have truly grown to love the lack of logistics and slower pace in our daily life. And to have my family close around me. Even 24/7.
How did this long-waited decision change our family's routines? I think I sense some cabana syndrone, we don't actually have much interest going out although now possible. The girls are on holiday this week. They love our bike rides in the afternoon, but I decided to expand their activities by signing them for tennis in the afternoons. I consider it should be safe: small groups, outdoors, the club has duly set des-infectant liquid in the entry and exit points of the court. First shopping trip? To the crafts store of course, we were out of all essentials. I call our cleaning lady. To my great disappointment, she is not available. So yeasterday I started the 10th time cleaning the house. I am aware my mother has done this for five decades, but we are made of different wood. I would be very happy to outsource this activity and go for a run and yoga instead.
There is talk about the summer holidays. Nothing is certain yet. European internal borders will likely open to save the tourism industry. We were exploring altearnatives with my husband what to do varying from driving all the way, driving half and taking a boat, flying straight or traveling as the years before taking all possible transports: plains, ferries, trains, car. At the moment we don't feel safe to go, mostly not to bring the risk of contagion to our parents. The Belgian contagion and death rates are exponentially higher than in the North, we are the risk. Fortunately the kids are not asking yet, so we have some time.
