The Wake Up Call
Alarm! Yes, indeed but not on the clock which can be put on snooze for 5 more minutes.
This wake up call was triggered by COVID-19.
It cannot be put off till we learn and follow what it wants to teach us.
What to follow :-
Avoid panicking, steer clear of sick people, and wash your hands. These are the most important things to do to combat COVID-19, experts say.
When put in simple terms, follow basic hygiene – which is taught to us from our childhood. This is also the basis of all religions. To keep our surroundings clean, to maintain personal hygiene and to clean our house everyday.
This wakeup call is the reminder to follow our basic values.
“Sorry! I couldn’t call as I was busy. Oh! I missed your birthday I had a very important presentation in office…….” Have you heard these phrases? I am sure you all have.
But if I ask you the same question now… your answer will be, “No more!”. Now when most of us work from home, we have realised the importance of our family and most importantly we have learned that we can work more productively with our family around. In our busy lives we tend to forget to spend quality time with our family…. The stress in our work lives, the meetings, travel, deadlines and so on. The zoom calls with our extended family has brought us closer even to our long distant relatives.
From the time we start school in kindergarten, we are taught to protect the mother earth – The three R’S and a lot more. Most of it only remains in paper–making posters for earth day and presentations on how to conserve nature. This is, practically, followed by very few.
COVID has taught us to coexist with nature. With the lockdown and curfew in many countries the pollution has come down with Less vehicles on the road. We always find out ways to decrease the number of vehicles on the road by using public transport, carpool , odd even and so on… but practically ?
COVID 19 is a reminder for all to lead a healthy life full of love and happiness. A life full of joys and treasured times with our loved ones. It has taught us a very important lesson that we are with our loved ones we can face biggest problems and crises in our lives and come out of it better than before.
Hoping and praying that this pandemic ends soon.
Bhasha Raj
Parent
Mamma, what should I do?
For mothers like me who have been at home with the kids for almost three months ,this is the common question that resonates in our home every evening, “Mamma can I watch TV? Can I play a game online?”
“What should I do? I am tired. The mother in me will definitely say, “Don’t you have anything else to do rather than just sit with a device?”
But wait, calm down, pause a while – think about the poor kids who are stuck at home. No friends…no school…only to see this one face, to talk to this one adult and observe her on the phone most of the time or just busy with household chores.
So I will request you to be patient with them. Let’s be happy and enjoy the time. Take a minute and realize this time will not come back. Tomorrow they will be off to university and into the wide world. This time with them around is truly a blessing and bonus.
It doesn’t mean you let them do as they please but make that time to discuss some daily activity and involve them in what you are doing. Let them plan an entire evening for the family or prepare the meal. It does not matter if it’s different, appreciate the effort. Talk to them and listen to all they want to say without passing judgement or giving them solutions. Being is Grade 10 is both stressful and challenging. Having someone to lean on is so comforting.
Summer vacations are right in the corner and the children are going to get restless. Plan a few DIYs activities with them. Plant a sapling it will be a pleasure to see it grow. Keep some indoor plants in their room be and let them take care of it .Let them make a few decisions of their own. Help them redecorate or paint their room. Create some family time to read, play board games, listen to their favourite songs or just watch a movie of their choice. Find something to celebrate each day, in a simple way without being extravagant.
It’s a challenge but I am sure we can make it exciting. At the end they are your kids and “There is no place like home and love begins at home”.
Swati Bhatia
FOM Grade 10