Thank you Covid-19

Dear Covid-19

It has been well over 90 days since you swept through the world, and created this global pandemic that we are all currently living through. Much has changed. More than much actually. Life has changed. In an unprecedented way.

At present, Noah and Eliza are about to start Term 2 of school on Wednesday. For the first two weeks, we are looking at online learning from home, similar to the last 3 weeks of Term 1. On the week of the 11th May, they are expected to return to school, for one day a week. No one knows how this will work, and for how long but that is a clear indication of life right now. Wait and see.

So life through this pandemic has not been easy.  Covid-19 has taken so much. Many people have died. Many people have lost their jobs. Many shops are closed. Cafes and restaurants are only open for take-away.  Finding toilet paper and other staples is like winning the lottery. Holidays have been cancelled. Family gatherings are discouraged. Our country is in lock down. We are asked to socially isolate and when we do go out, socially distance. Say what?!

Oh Covid-19, how you have changed our lives.

While Covid-19 can be accused of having taken so much from all of us, for our family, Covid-19 has also given.

Last night, as a family we each took turns to share what positivity Covid-19 has brought to our lives. Covid-19, here are three things that we collectively are thankful for.

1. Thank you for the opportunity to explore new places, with our bikes and with our feet. These days, we take advantage of the opportunity to get out to exercise. While we continue to ride our bikes and go bush walking around our areas, there have been times when we have used this time to explore new places. Thank you too for the gift of coincidence when we bumped into my brother, sis-in law and kids who were out riding their bikes too.

 

2. Thank you Covid-19 for pushing us to harness our inner creativity.  Who would have thought that I would find myself giving Tim and Noah Covid-cuts and be organising a virtual birthday party for Eliza? Eliza and I also had a go at singing David Bowie's Heroes for Couch Choir, and of course Noah learned to play the Last Post on his trombone to commemorate Anzac Day 2020.

3. Thank you too for giving our family more time to cook. With extra curricular activities all cancelled, home cooking has become a forefront activity for all of us, giving us the opportunity to experiment and cook childhood favourites, with Noah and Eliza also making amazing pizza one night.

So there you go Covid-19.

In the midst of this global pandemic where much of the world today has been overwhelmed with fear and anxiety and in lock down, team Stentiford count ourselves lucky that this time is allowing us to create memories beyond that.

We still have much to be thankful for.

With love
Team Stentiford xox