Kahlil Gibran, “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth”

Its so hard to believe we are another week into this most unusual situation.  I have to say my kids are teaching me what resilience is.  They may be only 7 and 5 but they have impressed me so much with how well they have adapted to this very strange new world.

My youngest was living for his birthday and a big party with his pals. However with it falling during the strictest of lockdown measures meant is was only a family party, despite having spent 3 months building it up. I felt so sad for him. I was silly, he totally embraced it. Loving every minute. For the party and given the most usual of circumstance, the very lovely people at Swizzels  kindly sent us a pretty mega sized bag of their favourite sweets.

Without even thinking my little man asked could we drop sweets to the gardens of his friends and if they were allowed by their parents they could have them. I did shed a tear. I just love his empathy and kindness. You cant teach somebody that it is inherent.

So off we went, him on his scooter and me running to keep up with a bag full of treat bags for his friends. So many of the mammies text me thanking me for giving their kids such a boost. We had done the same at Easter making Easter cards and dropping them to some of our relatives gardens. Its not the same as a hug but its the thought that’s most important.

I just thought it was so lovely and some of the 3kg mixed bag of Swizzzels favourites found some really good homes! Its an ideal size for a party and it contains a good mix of the usual favourites. I’m still very partial to the refreshers!! A throwback to my childhood.

Keep safe everybody….

Kahlil Gibran, “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth”

I really love joining in this linkie,  which is inspired by the above quote. it gives me the opportunity to look back on our week. Slowly, little by little we are adjusting to this very strange norm. We are all well which will always be the overriding objective but this was a tough week in out house. My 7 year old is really missing his school mates and grandparents but interestingly has found solace in his music.

He has been learning piano with the most amazing teacher for a year now but this week something clicked. I didn’t nag him to practice, he played away himself.  I can’t explain how this makes my heart happy. To see him take comfort and loose himself in his music is magical.

Hopefully next week is a step closer to normality.

Stay safe and follow the advice.

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” – Plato

Technology is really at the forefront of everything we do and never has this been more apparent than in the current circumstances where we are relying on it more than ever. I work in the finance sector and due to technological advances in recent times I have been able to work from home almost exactly as I would have in the office. In addition, my kids Spanish and piano lesson have moved to fully online. The pace at which we have all adapted is impressive. However something I am very aware of it that this come with increased exposure to screen time and as my own kids are very young it is very important at this age to build a solid foundation in media literacy as this will certainly stand to them in a world that is becoming increasingly digital. I received the below this morning and thought it would be an opportune time to share it. The handbook in link below is also a useful resource for parents as our kids begin to explore the vast digital world that is out there.

#ThinkBeforeClicking: How To Advise Your Children About Media Literacy In The Digital Space

Pic Credit: Pixabay

We are living in a time where people are relying on online sources and social media to stay in touch, find accurate information and get news updates. With parents currently home schooling and an increase in screen time for teenagers, what are the top tips we should know and what should we be doing to ensure our younger generations are critically engaging with the information they see online?

Twitter has been working with partners around the world to advance the conversation around media and information literacy. In partnership with UNESCO, it has produced Teaching and Learning with Twitter, a resource for educators to equip younger generations with skills to navigate today’s media environment. Download the handbook here.

“As an open platform for public conversation, Twitter has always championed free expression and free flow of information online. These complementary commitments intersect when we discuss media and information literacy,” said Ronan Costello, Senior Public Policy Manager, Twitter. “We hope that this Handbook will help educators and students navigate an increasingly complicated media environment. We look forward to continued collaboration with UNESCO on how media and information literacy can empower people – especially younger generations – to critically engage with content they see online.”

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Kahlil Gibran – “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth”

Second week in a row now having rejoined Donna from What the Redhead Said linkie inspired by the above quote, delighted with myself.

This week its all about about re grouping, enjoying the simple things in life. We were supposed to be back in Iceland this week but that couldn’t happen so im just happy everybody is safe and well and we are learning to enjoy a much slower paced life.

This week was all about getting fresh air, stretching the legs while observing the imposed restraints. The boys are thoroughly enjoying the scooters Santa brought. Who knew back then we would be getting so much use out of them for this reason. It does the head and the heart good to get out so we try every day to get out for a breath of fresh air, always conscious of social distancing.

Keep safe, keep well and keep following the advice. We can and we will come out the other side of this.  Each night going to bed myself and the boys plan what we will do once all this is over and we cannot wait.

Pic Credit: Pixabay

I think its important to set out at the outset, that I am not a medical professional, im actually an accountant, who enjoys blogging and sharing useful content. I happened across this very useful article and though in the times we are facing, it was an opportune time to share in the event it could help somebody. Other supports and resources are available on www.speakyourmigraine.ie or from the Migraine Association’s website www.migraine.ie. It goes without saying always consult a medical professional if you have any concerns. 

Migraine is Ireland’s fifth leading cause of disability, affecting over 10% of the population.[i]^. Managing the condition can often feel like an uphill battle on any given day. Now, along with the usual symptoms and fears surrounding a chronic migraine attack, navigating our new ‘normal’ during COVID-19, brings additional challenges – from working at home and keeping the kids occupied to social distancing and drastic changes in daily routines.

Here are 6 simple tips and actions that can help you to manage your migraine during this uncertain period.

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Glandore, Ireland’s longest serving & leading provider of serviced offices & coworking spaces, have very kindly shared helpful advice for those trying to juggle working from home whilst keeping their children occupied.   I am very thankful for their kind permission to share the below in these highly unusual times.

Pic Credit: Pixabay

1.            Set up a daily structure: Childcare professionals’ advice is that routine is vitally important when it comes to maintaining happy children. If your children’s day starts at 8.30am in crèche or school, try to start their home care at the same time. Establishing a routine at home will help everyone transition to this new ‘norm’ more easily. If your children are used to breaks at certain times, make sure to build those into your day. As we all know, children’s attention spans are much shorter than ours, so exercise and snack breaks are important to schedule in, for both the child and the parent. Try to finish up your home crèche or school at the same time as their regular day. 

Top tip: set an alarm to go off, so everyone knows that it’s family time now. The alarm doesn’t have to be the sound of a school bell ringing, it could be one of your children’s favourite songs instead.  

 2.            Have a designated space for mess: The length of time that we will be working and schooling from home is unknown and therefore it is recommended to designate a school/crèche area in your home if possible. Children need space to play and that play can often be messy so it might be wise to make the kitchen your home childcare centre. With paint, glitter, Lego, dolls and action figures, children’s toys can easily take over the house. They are used to being in the same room for the day, whether in crèche or school, so keeping the home childcare space consistent will help with their sense of routine. Again, be mindful of your child’s attention span; they may only stay with an activity for 10 or 20 minutes depending on their age. This should also match the projects you are setting yourself; if you have something that needs your focus then perhaps leave that until everyone is in bed.   

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