Livia has been home for more than 5 weeks now, togETHer with her little sister and her parents. Their home not only turned into a kindergarten, but also a preschool, a playground, a swimming pool, a campsite, and sometimes also into a madhouse.
We can’t do playdates – but we have a swing now!
by Roman Kern, Connections Explorer at swissnex Network, 30 April 2020
An ETH alumnus brings us perspectives from a 5-year-old about “The Virus”, virtual circle time, and indoor playgrounds (because, if the ones outside are closed, you have to build your own…)
“The Virus came because somebody ate a bat. It looks like a tennis ball with spikes on it, or a hedgehog that ate a balloon.”
Photo credit: Roman Kern
It’s unclear where she picked up the story with the bat, because we have been pretty much in self-isolation ever since the lockdown started. We looked up animations of viruses and used it in paintings and some other handicrafts, trying to make it more tangible, like tiny little ants in the park.
“The playground is closed and I can’t see my friends anymore because The Virus is outside. But we can use the swing at home!”
We converted our home into a multitude of facilities, including a kindergarten, pre-school, office space, swimming pool and campground. We’ve pitched our tent on the rooftop, and spent the night outdoors (the neighbours didn’t dare to complain, one of the rare benefits of social distancing maybe). By far the best though is the indoor swing – the pressure is on to design a slide next! Sometimes we wonder if our parents have their secret home improvement projects too.
Photo credit: Roman Kern
“Oma and the others (grandparents) are not allowed to go outside anymore, and they can’t see anybody. They have to eat healthy things to kill The Virus.”
Getting groceries for our parents has been taking up a lot of time, especially for my mom because she’s totally into the “Migros Séléction” stuff. Our local Migros doesn’t even carry most of those items, so it feels like a treasure hunt – with Livia sitting in the shopping cart (“no touching – oh no, I just touched it”), putting groceries for 3+ households in different bags. Gamification at its best.
“Soap and water, soap and water – start the fire, start the fire – I could use a backrub, I could use a backrub – I’m so tired, I’m so tired!”
Back at home, we totally got into handwashing songs and the one from Lucy Knisley is Livia’s absolute favorite. And I have to admit that I had to learn again how to properly sanitize my hands. Talking about learning opportunities:
“I saw Jaime (the Kindergarten teacher) and my friends on the computer. We have to say or show something. But I don’t know how many kids there are.”
They now gather three times a week via Zoom and have homework to do (seriously – math for 5-year-olds!). This led to calendar madness at its best: we have been (trying to) keeping track of all activities in four calendars: two for work, one for the kids, one for personal stuff.
“Mom and dad work from home.”
We’re trying. It’s incredibly hard. Sometimes.
Our three key take-aways so far:
1. Parenting is both super fun and insanely exhausting when it’s a full-time job.
2. We rediscovered our creativity and built amazing things with minimal materials.
3. And we have started to realise that this will probably (and hopefully) be a once-in-a-lifetime family experience.
2. We rediscovered our creativity and built amazing things with minimal materials.
3. And we have started to realise that this will probably (and hopefully) be a once-in-a-lifetime family experience.
What are yours?
About the author
The thing that keeps me busiest at the moment is: Virtual work and real daughters
My favorite app is: Netflix
One movie I recommend: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (wonderfully absurd)
And if all else fails, my instant pick-me-up is: Hide in the woods (or simply go outside, as long as we still can)
My favorite app is: Netflix
One movie I recommend: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (wonderfully absurd)
And if all else fails, my instant pick-me-up is: Hide in the woods (or simply go outside, as long as we still can)
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