So here we are. Last night I cried at the news, knowing that this, inevitably, was it. Micah’s been ill for a week already. Little Miss M had come out with a cough over the weekend. Megan had a temperature. Liam was concerned over how long he can self-isolate before he goes onto unpaid leave. I clung onto the fact that Megan’s dodgy looking tonsils could maybe mean no isolation yet, but after a phone call with a very lovely GP this morning, this is in fact where we are. It turns out they don’t know enough about the virus yet to rule out temperatures with other symptoms, so the advice is the same. And by the end of the night, Toby and Little T had temperatures too.

It’s felt a weird sort of day, as my mum said, it’s like a snow day with no snow. Despite being ‘in isolation’ I had to go to the GP at a set time to collect a prescription. We stood outside in the rain in a long queue, some with coats over their noses, some like nothing unusual was going on. The receptionists opened the door and handed out the paper, and then we all went over the road and ironically all crowded together in the pharmacy, the staff there wearing masks. I felt a rising panic suddenly being so close to all the ill people I was meant to be avoiding. But we all left again, to go home and hide away.

This morning the kids and I brainstormed things to do whilst at home. I need a vague plan, ideas to throw out when boredom comes by 9:15.

You’ll see our categories of play/learn/church/socialise/jobs/exercise. You need to know my jobs list for Liam is not included but is very. long. Also please note I did not suggest ‘anger management’. That was a child. Perhaps they are as fearful as I am of the results of us being confined to a small space?

It wasn’t really that organised or orderly however. They got out many games which they half played and abandoned to play on the Wii Fit. Toby wrote the title to a World War 2 project then wandered off to do something else. The little ones did enjoy the new letter tracing boards I’d ordered, so that was a success, but I fear boxing may prove to be a slightly too dangerous sport for the lounge.

I’m most worried about the food. They want it all the time. Snacks were rationed accordingly-pick and mix bowls seem to be the way forward to keeping it healthy and fun, and them not consuming the entire contents of the cupboard in one day. We should last until Thursday at least.

By the afternoon small people were getting cranky and Toby was going downhill with a temperature so we decided a pre dinner walk might help. I’m so grateful for this space in front of us, but wandering down the river, still fresh with debris from the floods, was a stark reminder that for some people they are moving from one very recent crisis straight into another. 2020 certainly has made its mark so far.

The lovely part was seeing the signs of spring along the way. Buds on trees, flowers poking through, birds calling, it all looking a bit greener. Spring will come. There is hope. This too, shall pass.

We had a play in the empty park before dinner, child 5 of 6 then developed a temperature too, so bedtime was a fairly quiet affair. Followed by wine. Because, no driving tonight.

It’s definitely felt a surreal sort of day. It’s been good to connect with other mums via different groups, to have a phone call with a sister, to have offers of help if we need things. The way forward seems to be to take one day at a time. To keep connecting with others. We will come out the other side. And, as ever, my little girl’s bedtime reading lifted my spirits once again.

Help is on the way. Tomorrow is a new day. No doubt it will bring new instructions and changes to the way we live, but there will be good to find in it too.