7:20 am. The house is silent. Or did I hear something from the kids room? I decide it was the birds tsirping outside. Very silently (and skillfully,) I tip toe down the stairs, put my jogging gear on and step into the morning sun. The air, the sounds, the whole neighbourhood seems different, it is as if the nature has taking over. I can actually hear our peacock living in the park and sparrows fighting for their breakfast. I feel good. Free! Not confined at all. It will start today at noon. Only essential outings are allowed, and sports. We are fine with food and medication, but there is one place I would to go in the morning: the garden shop. Apparently I am not the only one having their salads in mind. The shop informs us they have to limit the people coming in and lines are already formed at 9 am outside. I will wait for the delivery service starting tomorrow.
My wonderful, good-humoured children wake up and we start homeschooling. Today, everybody wants mom to give instructions. I feel popular, but annoyed after a while, there is little progress. I take my eldest upstairs and we continue with Math. What do we have today? Calculations from fractions into decimals and vice versa. I feel a silent relief, I can still do this! I hear my husband is struggling with the middle ones down-stairs. Did I hear swearing? It is time for a break. I give the kids a small chocolate egg for the work well done (is this lying?) We go for a bike ride, again. This time there is little less whining. People are lining in front of shops, keeping well a distance. People are even lining for flowers!
I feel a bit ashamed to say, but we spent a wonderful spring afternoon in the sun. Girls finished their homework, played Cranium, cared for their rabbits. I have a call with my mom while enjoying the sun. I see my childhood garden in beautiful snow. In the evening I call my sister on the other side of the Ocean. They are so far, yet they seem to be so close.
It is all in the mind. We can keep our loved ones in our hearts despite how far they are. We can also create the feeling of space and freedom if we choose to do so.
Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Tuesday, 17 March 2020
Corona - Semi-Confinement day 4
”Today was actually like during summer holidays mom!” noted my eldest in the evening when thinking back on the day. I agreed. Beautiful sunny day. After home schooling, we prepared our bikes and went for the first bike ride this spring. Fantastic weather and we all had a thrill. I was thanking myself for having invested a small fortune for good quality bikes, they served well now. After lunch we prepared the garden for the season, my husband washed the terraces, I removed last leaves, even washed the windows. Kids played all afternoon out in the sun, having a jump on the trampoline and climbing on their tree cabana. I was thanking ourselves again for having a garden, being able to go outdoors, in whatever direction the situation would go as to the confinement. In Italy people open the windows of their little apartments, play music and dance together.
We watched a Finnish movie last night, about the life of a popular old-time singer “Kari-Tapio”. Despite the bad language and heavy drinking, I felt missing Finland. I think the home sickness is also a reaction to the closing of borders, you miss what you cannot have.
I just read the news, the Belgian newly formed Government has decided to move to phase 3 and from tomorrow Wednesday 18 March from noon, until April 4 Belgium will be in full confinement. People may go to the supermarket (alone), pharmacy and doctors. And do sports, ouf! That’s fine, we will manage this too. I have not created an addiction for a Saturday shopping sprint, clubbing or restaurants. Life will not change dramatically. I can, however, imagine for some, these limitations will be major. It will be interesting to see how the society takes this. Will they reach for the bottle or use time as an opportunity to do something constructively: get to know their families, themselves, developing new skills and overall taking better care of themselves. I am thinking of all the super parents rushing their daily routines and suddenly there is no rush. No urgency. This event, in all its sadness is an opportunity for all of us to pause.
We watched a Finnish movie last night, about the life of a popular old-time singer “Kari-Tapio”. Despite the bad language and heavy drinking, I felt missing Finland. I think the home sickness is also a reaction to the closing of borders, you miss what you cannot have.
I just read the news, the Belgian newly formed Government has decided to move to phase 3 and from tomorrow Wednesday 18 March from noon, until April 4 Belgium will be in full confinement. People may go to the supermarket (alone), pharmacy and doctors. And do sports, ouf! That’s fine, we will manage this too. I have not created an addiction for a Saturday shopping sprint, clubbing or restaurants. Life will not change dramatically. I can, however, imagine for some, these limitations will be major. It will be interesting to see how the society takes this. Will they reach for the bottle or use time as an opportunity to do something constructively: get to know their families, themselves, developing new skills and overall taking better care of themselves. I am thinking of all the super parents rushing their daily routines and suddenly there is no rush. No urgency. This event, in all its sadness is an opportunity for all of us to pause.
Monday, 16 March 2020
Corona - semi-confinement day 3
Monday 16 March. I had marked this date in my calendar for months in advance. This is THE day, the big day, my competition day! Months of studying would be finally over! I would let my cleaning lady in, take the kids to school and head for my great all-day-challenge at the EU quarter! Weehaa!!
Well it is Monday 16 alright, but my cleaning lady will not come, neither will I drop the kids to school or go try my wings to change my career. I cross over my competition in the calendar. I also cross over girls piano audition, and my yoga retreat, as well as friends over for dinner party. Not fun.
After breakfast, I set up the kids to start our first day of home schooling. I hear from distance my husband informs me that we do not have any Internet. We actually don’t have Internet. I check my phone for a notification from the service provider, nothing. The whole Belgium has been instructed to telework and e-learn, and -as we find out after persistently calling them - our service provider is conducting a planned maintenance for the next 6 hours..This country does not stop amazing me.
It is evening, it has been a long day, I won’t go much longer. I changed the title having spoken with friends in Spain, who are actually in full confinement, no going outside except for grocery stores. I feel their pain in an apartment with two young children. I send a small prayer that all the Belgians would understand to respect the semi-confinement and the consequences that breaking it will lead to.
Well it is Monday 16 alright, but my cleaning lady will not come, neither will I drop the kids to school or go try my wings to change my career. I cross over my competition in the calendar. I also cross over girls piano audition, and my yoga retreat, as well as friends over for dinner party. Not fun.
After breakfast, I set up the kids to start our first day of home schooling. I hear from distance my husband informs me that we do not have any Internet. We actually don’t have Internet. I check my phone for a notification from the service provider, nothing. The whole Belgium has been instructed to telework and e-learn, and -as we find out after persistently calling them - our service provider is conducting a planned maintenance for the next 6 hours..This country does not stop amazing me.
It is evening, it has been a long day, I won’t go much longer. I changed the title having spoken with friends in Spain, who are actually in full confinement, no going outside except for grocery stores. I feel their pain in an apartment with two young children. I send a small prayer that all the Belgians would understand to respect the semi-confinement and the consequences that breaking it will lead to.
Sunday, 15 March 2020
Corona - Semi-Confinement day 2
“Today is children’s day” proclaimed my eldest daughter. “ That means, we get to decide the program. Everything.” We looked at each other with my husband. The day starts strong. Clearly there had been something off in yesterday’s program. “Fine, great idea. As long as it includes regular meal times, outdoor activities and one nap (at least)”
The day ended up being superb. The kids baked muffins, we went for a long walk with new neighbours (keeping distance!) with kids similar age. We met so many friends at the park. Everybody feeling seemingly awkward, still getting used to the new social rules: no kissing, handshakes, but the Finnish greeting: distant wave and hi😃 or the ankle greeting, although not so sure about that either, the virus can stay 3 days on a surface. Other observations: so many people - in family formation - outdoors, biking, walk-in, jogging! From what dream world is this! At home the kids played board games together, cared for puppies, prepared salt-dough and made figurines. Very limited tv time in the evening.
The crises management sent another email calling for individual responsibility to respect the Confinement and limit social interactions. The Prime minister sent a video speech, calling especially the youth to avoid spending time with each other, although bars and restaurants are closed. Apparently, several people had organised “lock-in parties” on Friday evening, before the start of the Confinement at midnight. The idiots. The number of contamination in Belgium is over 800. The eldest and ill are the most vulnerable ones, but nobody is immune to the virus. We already agreed with my husband, no play dates indoors.
This is nature giving a lesson to humanity. Giving a slap to globalisation, over-consumption, over-traveling. Creating tremendous pressure to our healthcare, unemployment and hard-ship likely driving our economies into recession.
At the same time there is the amazing Window of opportunity. These exceptional circumstances push the society with unprecedented speed towards awareness. Forcing us back to the basics, spending time with our closest ones, face our fears, turn in for introspection.
The day ended up being superb. The kids baked muffins, we went for a long walk with new neighbours (keeping distance!) with kids similar age. We met so many friends at the park. Everybody feeling seemingly awkward, still getting used to the new social rules: no kissing, handshakes, but the Finnish greeting: distant wave and hi😃 or the ankle greeting, although not so sure about that either, the virus can stay 3 days on a surface. Other observations: so many people - in family formation - outdoors, biking, walk-in, jogging! From what dream world is this! At home the kids played board games together, cared for puppies, prepared salt-dough and made figurines. Very limited tv time in the evening.
The crises management sent another email calling for individual responsibility to respect the Confinement and limit social interactions. The Prime minister sent a video speech, calling especially the youth to avoid spending time with each other, although bars and restaurants are closed. Apparently, several people had organised “lock-in parties” on Friday evening, before the start of the Confinement at midnight. The idiots. The number of contamination in Belgium is over 800. The eldest and ill are the most vulnerable ones, but nobody is immune to the virus. We already agreed with my husband, no play dates indoors.
This is nature giving a lesson to humanity. Giving a slap to globalisation, over-consumption, over-traveling. Creating tremendous pressure to our healthcare, unemployment and hard-ship likely driving our economies into recession.
At the same time there is the amazing Window of opportunity. These exceptional circumstances push the society with unprecedented speed towards awareness. Forcing us back to the basics, spending time with our closest ones, face our fears, turn in for introspection.
Saturday, 14 March 2020
Corona - Semi-Confinement day 1
It seems still unbelievable. The actions started straight after Carnaval break. Girls reported the Italian section in school had had only a handful of pupils retuning from holidays. The guards made checks at the school gate to interview people, checking if they had temperature. Apparently they extended the checks to school buses as well, little minds trying to remember whether they were skiing in France or Italy or Switzerland..or in all of them!Anybody coming from the Northern part of Italy was not allowed to enter the school premises and should stay 14 days in quarantine.. Girls’ school stopped immediately swimming classes and excursions, communicated clear and loud about hygiene measures and personal responsibility. Belgian schools stayed open. Swimming classes continued. At work, members were still traveling and circulating freely, from airport to our offices, without limitations. As if we were living in parallel worlds.
News came of new positive cases of the virus propagating in Belgium and the rest of the world - it was declared as pandemic. Things started moving quicker. I got used to receiving several text messages and emails per day from the Belgian crisis management unit, the School Head and the Crises management of the EU institutions. We heard about the Italian extreme measures to lock-down the whole country. Seemed utopistic still few days ago. Wednesday the school prepared its e-platform and girls came home with all of their books. European Parliament stopped all events already earlier in the week, other institutions came after. We saw it coming.
Yesterday, the Belgium government actually followed the steps of China, Italy and a few other countries and initiated a confinement today 14th March 2020 until (at least) 3 April. All activities, schools, events are suspended. Shops remain open during the week, grocery stores and pharmacists also the weekends. People are invited to telework.
First day behind. It was a beautiful sunny day with 13 degrees sunlight. We went for walk in the park. People did not were masks, apart from two persons. We made a list of activities to pick from, and a list of meals to choose. I ordered several indoor games for the kids. I decided this is going to be an opportunity, like never before, to turn the chaos into something positive.
News came of new positive cases of the virus propagating in Belgium and the rest of the world - it was declared as pandemic. Things started moving quicker. I got used to receiving several text messages and emails per day from the Belgian crisis management unit, the School Head and the Crises management of the EU institutions. We heard about the Italian extreme measures to lock-down the whole country. Seemed utopistic still few days ago. Wednesday the school prepared its e-platform and girls came home with all of their books. European Parliament stopped all events already earlier in the week, other institutions came after. We saw it coming.
Yesterday, the Belgium government actually followed the steps of China, Italy and a few other countries and initiated a confinement today 14th March 2020 until (at least) 3 April. All activities, schools, events are suspended. Shops remain open during the week, grocery stores and pharmacists also the weekends. People are invited to telework.
First day behind. It was a beautiful sunny day with 13 degrees sunlight. We went for walk in the park. People did not were masks, apart from two persons. We made a list of activities to pick from, and a list of meals to choose. I ordered several indoor games for the kids. I decided this is going to be an opportunity, like never before, to turn the chaos into something positive.
Sunday, 29 December 2019
Christmas at home
This year has been a special year and we finish it with the same tone. We actually stay home for Christmas! We were worried with my husband what might our children say about not seeing snow and the grand-parents. We obviously sold the idea very well, because they were actually Happy! What are the odds! They were so pleased with the idea that they could play with their rabbits, their toys, spend time in pyjamas..and the magic hasn’t worn out yet starting the second week of holidays. For my husband and myself it took A bit getting used to, but we have found our escapes. I go for my morning jog in the beautiful frozen park, we have seen two hilarious theatre plays, gone swimming all together , ice-skating with the girls and invited neighbours over for lunch. We definitely spend more time together as family at home than when traveling. It has been a thrill to witness my second daughter finish her reading project: the very first abcedaire! She finished it on the 24th and oh they joy of choosing the gift for the work well done! Our son is hooked from the morning to the evening with the new car circuit Santa brought. Every five minutes he reminds it is HIS own, nobody else’s. My eldest daughter seems so relaxed and happy. It makes me feel relaxed and happy. And our baby girl is nothing but relaxed, she teething and learning to run, climb and find all forbidden activities with her height of 18 months. It’s all quite wonderful. I don’t need to prepare and pack. And I already look all the more forward to our Skiing holiday in February😄
Tuesday, 19 November 2019
Wisdom from my eldest daughter
Parents meeting this year ended with tears of laughter, when the teacher of my eldest daughter (9 year), revealed me sides of her I oblivious. As it turned out, the Teacher, let’s call her Madame, had announced in class that she would be having her two young god children aged 4 and 6 visiting her soon. A side note, Madame herself does not have any children herself, has an impressive long international career in teaching in international schools worldwide and is the type you generally would not give any advice. Anyways, my daughter thought differently. At lunch time, she had squeezed next to Madame and said: “So, you have these children coming to visit you, right? Well, as you don’t probably have that much experience with young kids (!) so I could give you some tips”. I don’t think she waited before she started.
Rule number ONE: “You will probably want to go to the store with the kids, so my advice is, you set the expectations right and you tell them already before hand: “You won’t get anything”. This will avoid a lot of humiliating bargaining and crying in public”.
Rule number TWO: “You should always carry “jokers” in your purse (like gum or lolly) that you can hand to the kids if there is a crisis anyways, But remember, you cannot give these all the time, otherwise they loose their effect”.
Rule number THREE: “When you have a meal, have them eat half of the plate and then you can give a dessert. Like a piece of cucumber or dried fruit (!!)”.
Rule number FOUR: “Kids of that age, you will need to tire them before putting them to bed. Swimming late in the evening would be best, but since they are not your own kids you probably won’t dare to go to the public pool with them(❤️).”
Rule number FIVE: “ At any case: DO NOT LET THEM SLEEP TOGETHER! Otherwise, nobody sleeps..”
Rule number FIVE: “ At any case: DO NOT LET THEM SLEEP TOGETHER! Otherwise, nobody sleeps..”
Madame told me she had applied EVERY single rule, each of them had worked like a dream, and she had even passed these instructions to the childrens parents for further use..
I was already rolling on the floor by this time, obviously also superbly proud of my daughter and her insights at the height of her nine years of which six as an older sister. I also realised the responsibility she -without being asked to do so- is already carrying in her little shoulders. The teacher concluded, that she has innate qualities that will surely serve her tremendously well in life❤️
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