School is done. I am surprisingly relieved to not have to download a lesson or print homework. I won’t miss those times after kids bedtime sitting at the computer preparing next day lessons and readings so my six-year old can understand and do them independently for review together at a later time. Homeschooling became a whole lot more challenging when I went back to work.
Under normal circumstances my children would be scheduled for a variety of summer camps. As it turns out, we are all liking the unplanned summer time spent together to do whatever we feel like. Through the day, my children are free to play and exist without routine, much like I did when growing up. Organized sports have been traded in for biking, scootering, learning skateboarding, walking, running or swimming at the lake for the whole family. Regular lesson plans are now walks to the library. The days of preplanning and cooking dinners for the next day late at night so that we can dash to one activity or another are long gone. I can enjoy barbecuing and creating fresh meals daily weather it be at home on the deck or at our lakeside cottage. We are free range.
In this phase of recovery, all businesses are allowed to open as long as social distancing measures are in place. Hardly anyone is wearing masks anywhere. Sadly, our downtown mall and many sidewalk shops have taken a hit during shutdown and have vacated. There’s no-one around.
This weekend marks the formation of The Atlantic Provinces bubble. The East Coast has performed very well in containing COVID-19 and provincial borders have been opened. Our family traditionally spends time exploring the home provinces in the summer. This year will be no different. Despite no formal entertainment due to the pandemic, Canada Day will be spent very East Coast Canadian way on a beautiful lake canoeing listening to calls of the Loons.
Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦
Single parenting during COVID-19 pandemic 