I dropped my daughter at preschool today. The school playground is filling up again, as children present for their designated one day a week at school. At the end of last term it was almost empty, just a few children each day, but now more and more are re

I dropped my daughter at preschool today. The school playground is filling up again, as children present for their designated one day a week at school. At the end of last term it was almost empty, just a few children each day, but now more and more are returning.

I kept my school-aged children at home when requested, but the youngest has continued to go to preschool. With my husband and I both working from home there was no way we could keep a 4 year old home with us, supervise homeschooling overchildren and do our jobs. I felt pressure to dress in "work clothes" for drop off and pick up, so that people didn't assume that I was working at home and should keep her home with me. There had been some very judgemental messages flying around on the preschool parents' WhatsApp group.

There is a tunnel being dug under the house for a new motorway. It's a constant vibrating hum. We wouldn't notice it so much usually, but because everyone is home all the time it's more obvious. The plane noise that usually crisscrosses our suburb is almost gone - we notice now when a plane comes over.

The big children have enjoyed having more time at home. There is less stress, fewer activities. They spend more time building Lego, reading books, playing with the pets. I can cook proper dinners because I'm not dashing home from work. I'm grateful that there is enough space for us all here, and we have a garden. I'm grateful that we have been able to keep working during this time, and have been allowed to exercise outdoors, unlike some other countries. Seeing the empty shelves at the supermarket was confronting for a while.