Covid Lockdown II : Old Hat?

courtesy Radio Prague International Sept 14 2020

 I guess the first lockdown was more difficult because our family was split and my wife and I were taking turns with the kids at the cottage or being in the city. Nor did we know what to expect.  This one may be easier because we are together and we can trade places from day to day and during the day.  If my wife needs me to make dinner the next day, I can plan to be at home for several hours before and shop and cook it.  Otherwise I am going to my office or store every other day and taking care of other things.  I guess a business is like farm animals.  It always needs to be taken care of, everyday, or it will die.   

Same with kids for that matter. 

I am always home by mid to late afternoon and every other day I am with my kids all day.  My wife has home office so she is home most all of the time.  Still she needs to have uninterrupted time and still make sure the kids are getting things done and not on the video games 10 hours a day.  

I can make sure of that.   Once again, hopefully, I am daddy 40%  OR MORE at home.  

Granted, my daughters are older and don't need as much of US to stay alive.  They can just about do it themselves.  I realize there are parents out there with problem kids, and that, well that is another kettle of fish.  

I do remember when my younger daughter was 2.  She needed nearly around the clock supervision.  But even that to some extent was routine and if you did it correctly you could almost find some free time in there to take care of other things, at least in the house.  Not on a second job of course not.  

Now she is 9 and her older sister is nearly a teenager.  The job has transitioned to "making sure" and being there "in case" but not around the clock supervision.  

Getting tough at home better tag my partner

I have to say though, and I have heard this from many other parents, that home schooling is definitely more difficult.  Even "making sure" and "being there" can be difficult if you have a home office job and need to get stuff done.  But again, this is why two parents, like two hands is much better.  It is like tag team wresting.  When one parent goes into the ring the other can sit out and do what they need to do. Then the second parent goes into the ring and the first goes out.  

There are still so many divorces taking place and only one parent taking care of the kid(s) overwhelmingly more than the other parent.  This is a shame.  Not only do I strongly believe that kids need two parents, but really, this is LIFE people. Every higher species is meant to bring up its offspring.  And isnt it great that now fathers can also partake in this necessity of life and be a bigger role in their kids life, and not just a weekend father.  Why I would say in this day and age even Mark Zuckerberg can and should stay at home a day or two in the week and take care of his Max. Give his wife time to do her other things.  Dads, you are really missing out if you don't think so.  

And so, round two is going ok as far as the kids are concerned.  I hope my wife doesn't have a drastically different opinion than I do.  I guess I should ask sometime, though she may have said so at the beginning that she had it under control.  Even when she has to make 5 meals a day for the kids at home (3 meals and two snacks, yes, growing kids).  

I recall the Japanese article in which wives, one in particular was fed up with her husband. He would not help enough around the house even though he was home bound too, and not doing much work.  Why couldnt he do more house work?  The woman posted it on line what she wanted him to do and got a lot of hits.  (not the same article, but a good one)  I keep asking my wife, 'what can I do?'  Can I do something now while you are making dinner?'   I have taken over the food shopping mostly, or much more, and have added more to the pot for shopping.  I have not contributed so much to the meal making, but have offered, but my wife seems to like to do it if she is home and she has the time, though I did cook twice this week of writing. 

And furthermore, dont expect some big thanks from your wife, or your kids.  I mean, this is her normal load that she was doing, its nice that you take some of her work over, but its not like you deserve a metal for it, You have to thank yourself internally and say you are a better person for it and you are doing a good thing, but this should be the new normal. 

I digress some.  Suffice to say that this second wave is a lot more "downtemp" and easy to handle.  Now that my business is closed I have barely any contact with anyone outside my own household.  The only downside I feel so far is I dont feel I am doing as much at home concerning my business as I did last time.  I seem to have let it slide some and dont have as much taste to do business work at home.  I would rather make sure my younger daughter doesnt need me for some help in Math or English. 

Not sure if this is bad or good. Eh, well, whatever.  It is what it is.  

Ray Keith 1999 Classified LP

Been listening to this LP while writing.  From 1999 Ray Keith drum and bass 5 lp