There is nothing in my children’s lives

[Howdydooo]

It’s all been taken away again.

I know it’s a pandemic. I know it’s temporary (but don’t know how temporary).

Screens are no substitute for friends.

They will not be fooled again by home structure and schooling. They have nowhere to go, no one to see and nowhere to go. And they know how long it went on for last time.

@lasttraineast

Well I have experienced the loss of many relatives....and I'm also completely aware that I'm not immortal.

Anyone who equates lockdown/schools closed to solitary confinement in the 21st century needs to get their head checked.
It is the stupidest thing I've read today
Absolutely and at least two people on this thread compared it to Flowers in the Attic.
You know the one where the vile Grandmother aided and abetted by their selfish Mother locked kids up in an attic. They turned toesch other so a bit of incest thrown in the mix. Yeah very similar.

Hi hun, I am sorry you this way. Please remember your children have yiu. It’s hard not to think they have lost everything, but they would be worse off if something happened to you. On this point, it’s a good idea to show them that joy doesn’t result in what you don’t have, but in what you can appreciate. Instead of picking at what they don’t have, let them use this as a chance to build on what they have, which is themselves, their mind and their health. Have they tried writing etters and cards to their friends and family regularly, have yiu done. Family karaoke day together? Have you played board games together? , have you times how quickly everyone can do their chores with a favourite album playing? What about getting hen to teach you something they are good at which wasn’t around when you were at school? Have they taught you what they are learning, as if you were the pupil ( to embed learning and revise in a fun way)? What about labelling all of the furniture and rooms in the house in different languages then rotating them in the week, and learning how to spell them? Have you done sewing with them? What about tie-dye? Or watching movies together and then didcussingbwhat they would do in the same situation and why? What about doing a dream board? Or makeovers, then writing what they did well and what they could improve in? How about watching old school movies that we used to run home from school to watch, like killer tomatoes? What about writing or illustrating your own book with each person in the family doing one chapter? Pic a title and subsections and everyone write one page. Can you imagine how hillarious, insane or scary that book could be with everyone’s input? What about doing a quiz party with friends or kahoot quiz with friends? Or even as a revision or learning Opportunity, send out virtual invitations and get everyone in the extended family or friends circle to attend. Soooo, soooo many things they can do with you. If you did just one of these things per week and write them in the fridge, it’s something for everyone to look forward to. I hope you find some of these suggestions helpful. Have a strong and positive mental attitude. You got this!!!

It's really tough - my eldest is at a specialist boarding school - it has been their dream for many years to attend for 6th form. They lost half of the first year due to last years lockdown and are now losing the second year too. Much of the benefit of attending was to be absorbed into that environment with others having spent the last years being at a normal school being told to drop their "hobby" and focus on the important academic work. It might seem like a first world problem but with years of hard work to get there it is devastating to watch their disappointment. This was only ever going to be a 2 year opportunity so they'll never have the chance again.

Here's some things we've been doing to fill our weekends as my dc are in school.

They cook a new meal or bake something each week, they assist me with the shopping list, have an input and make their own packed lunches.

Dd1 walks the 2 dogs separately and has an Instagram account for them, it keeps her busy. They go on runs together and we also train their sport once a week (martial arts) Dd2 walks the dogs with me and we take her football to the park and she gives me a lesson.

We walk in the nearest town and grab a Costa on the walk, they love this.

This weekend I'm going to do circuit training with them, tonight we bathed the dogs and ate dinner.

Totally off the point but the child in the photograph was indeed a boy called Kong Nyong, not a girl.

@Londonmummy66 that is what breaks my heart for DS. He had an amazing one time opportunity for specialist study in a subject that is his passion. It has not really been able to happen as it should, because it is creative, and all the associated trips and stuff, cancelled. I find it heartbreaking. Yes, so know there is worse etc. But he is so depressed. Guess he has rest of life to do other stuff.

@Busymummylady

Hi hun, I am sorry you this way. Please remember your children have yiu. It’s hard not to think they have lost everything, but they would be worse off if something happened to you. On this point, it’s a good idea to show them that joy doesn’t result in what you don’t have, but in what you can appreciate. Instead of picking at what they don’t have, let them use this as a chance to build on what they have, which is themselves, their mind and their health. Have they tried writing etters and cards to their friends and family regularly, have yiu done. Family karaoke day together? Have you played board games together? , have you times how quickly everyone can do their chores with a favourite album playing? What about getting hen to teach you something they are good at which wasn’t around when you were at school? Have they taught you what they are learning, as if you were the pupil ( to embed learning and revise in a fun way)? What about labelling all of the furniture and rooms in the house in different languages then rotating them in the week, and learning how to spell them? Have you done sewing with them? What about tie-dye? Or watching movies together and then didcussingbwhat they would do in the same situation and why? What about doing a dream board? Or makeovers, then writing what they did well and what they could improve in? How about watching old school movies that we used to run home from school to watch, like killer tomatoes? What about writing or illustrating your own book with each person in the family doing one chapter? Pic a title and subsections and everyone write one page. Can you imagine how hillarious, insane or scary that book could be with everyone’s input? What about doing a quiz party with friends or kahoot quiz with friends? Or even as a revision or learning Opportunity, send out virtual invitations and get everyone in the extended family or friends circle to attend. Soooo, soooo many things they can do with you. If you did just one of these things per week and write them in the fridge, it’s something for everyone to look forward to. I hope you find some of these suggestions helpful. Have a strong and positive mental attitude. You got this!!!

Brilliant!