I saw a roadsign today which read CHANGED PRIORITIES and it really struck a chord with me.
How many of us can truly say that we are the same people post-lockdown as we were before? Back in the days of mass gatherings, unlimited trips out and grandparent childcare.
I’m certainly not, and hopefully the things that have changed are for the better.
Things that once seemed like massive priorities, suddenly just don’t feel like a big deal anymore. Things like making sure my son was at every football practice in pursuit of his Premier League career or keeping work email notifications on at the weekend. Now that we’ve all been faced with the stark realities of a global pandemic, where we can only control our immediate destiny, what was the big stuff before has become the small stuff.
That’s not to say that I don’t think about it anymore, but it just feels less of a pressure on my mindset. My son’s football career can wait and so can my emails.
I’ve also slowed down. Pre-lockdown we were constantly out at clubs and activities and I was fitting in housework and chores around these and work (begrudgingly), now I have a lot more time on my hands. The upside being that I don’t mind how long we linger in the playground, because there’s nowhere else to go and I’m not rushing back to put the washing on.
Hand on heart I can’t say that I have treasured every single moment at home with my children, but we have definitely made some lasting memories. The bond between my two has strengthened massively and for that I will be forever grateful, because it wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
We have also learned (sometimes the hard way) that we can survive at home all together, with only trips to the great outdoors to occupy us. My son has found a new love for tree climbing and we’ve overcome my daughter’s fear of dogs, thanks to plenty of supportive dog owners.
Yes I have regrets about how lockdown has panned out, but the positives and the future certainly outweigh the lack of new languages learned or ignored screen time limits.
We’re stronger as a family unit and that will endure long after the pandemic fades.