The new normal…..

Thank you to Rima for writing this article for us…….

“It’s been over 2 months. I stopped counting the days once I got to week two and couldn’t figure out if it was Tuesday or Wednesday. My daughters harks to “When coronovirus is finished” so often, that now, its like a new month, era, a vision of when everything will be ok again and “normal”.

But after this “pause” of sorts, do we WANT to goback to “normal?”. Are our new personas able to fit into the circumstances of “before?” I’m not talking about fitting into wedding dresses here! I’m sure so many of us have learned lessons, about ourselves and others and life in general, that “normal” no longer exists. For many, working from home has opened the door for flexible work hours, helped them to develop self-discipline and many other advantages. As a mother, wife, teacher, I have seen many of these, though sometimes we have to look carefully for them.

Although there are some terrifying aspects to the coronavirus crisis, we have to accept, hasnt it been wonderful to see the whole world stay inside, keep themselves and others safe and find themselves? To witness the world healing, animals reclaiming land? To pause a little our frenetic lifestyles, to stop and smell the flowers, to make that banana bread. To stop, to breathe, to read the hungry caterpillar for the 1 millionth time without rushing your kids into the bath? It hasn’t been easy to juggle all these things under one roof, but it has been beautiful to learn to see each other as all the different parts of ourselves. To know that we CAN.

My children have seen me “teach” over zoom calls. I’ve heard my husband with his posh voice making work calls, I’ve seen my daughters become best friends.

There is always something positive. Having to postpone a celebration is so hard. But we develop resilience, patience and love never stops. It grows and grows. So when the day comes, think not about how and when it should have been, but how it is. Love so much bigger, better and bolder than ever before. How hugs are longer, how flowers smell sweeter than ever before.

My mum is always right, (as most mums are) and she always says, the best is yet to come…….

Rima x