Spiderman | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 288 – Resilience

06 Sep 2020 50 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Quote, Resilience, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.”
Emory Austin

Thank you, Spidey, for finding a wonderful quote exampling resilience.

I wanted to consider resilience with you all, today, after finishing my first week back to school, with the children.

We were faced with a whole school filled with children, the majority of which haven’t stepped foot inside the school building for over five months, and some, the youngest, who have never been to school, before.

I was dreading it.

Not only the safety aspect, but the wellbeing of the children.

How many would come in distressed?
Are they all going to be happy to be coming back to school?
What might they have witnesssed, or experienced during lockdown?
Have any children experienced bereavement?
What backsteps have been taken, academically?
How much work to we have to do to get them back on track?

Every single one of my 28 students came in. RESULT!

Only two cried on the first day. By Friday, after moments of tears, they were happy.

I can remember all their names. All of them.

I am already in love with my new class, and have identified my pickles already, but, what a bunch!

And in my capacity as EYFS Phase Leader, I had even more things thrown at me.

From a key member of staff going on early maternity leave, so having to train up a supply teacher, to taking part in my first interview process to find permanent cover for this teacher.

My teaching assistant being off sick (get well soon!), so managing twenty eight 4-year-olds, with one, not two helping hands.

Meeting with a parent regarding a new Special Needs pupil who will be joining, to try and explain why we need to take time to settle the child in.

Stepping in to assist the nursery, where there are at least five 3-year-olds who spent three hours screaming.

I’m eternally grateful to my team who have been genuinely amazing. They’ve picked up the slack where we are staff down, and all put the children’s needs before their own.

Having to assist with my special needs pupil from last year, who hasn’t taken this transition to another class well, at all.

Trying to digest a new set of paperwork that the Government were meant to have given us in July, regarding a new curriculum we are going to be using this year. (We got the paperwork on Thurday night… after school had already started. Great timing, Government Peeps!)

Alongside the pallaver of work being done in the house (OMG, the stress!), and sending my own two children back to secondary school, in a very different environment.

Appointments, cancelled or not, have been attended, rushing here and there after school.

It’s all been happening.

And yet, here I am, still standing, after the week.

Showing my resilience.

Sure, I’m tired. I’m drained. But I’m proud of myself. And I’m happy.

Still singing, even if the music isn’t playing.

So… tell me, do you consider yourself to be resilient?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps. And enjoy your week! ❤

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 287 – Starting Afresh

30 Aug 2020 28 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, new beginnings, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again.”
Buddha

Thank you, Spidey for a thoughtful quote there.

This next week heralds a whole host of ‘new’ beginnings, what with much of the country starting to get back to some semblance of normality, once schools start up again.

It’s been a strange five months, what with the pandemic and lockdown, as we. can pretty much all agree, and one thing that has become obvious, is that schools opening are essential for the rest of the population to begin to get themselves back to work, etc.

So, we will be starting back, excited to see our new children, or our old, hoping to bring some stability to the lives of some children who have lived through a time unlike any other.

But, it won’t be like they remembered, especially for the younger ones, who had only begun their school life mere months before being instructed to stay at home.

And it will be equally different for the older kids, too, with limited mixing with others, and a whole host of catching up for all pupils to do.

But there are apprehensions, too. Parents still worrying about how schools are going to function in a way that is safe for their children. Adults worrying about whether this is safe for them, as well as their family members back home, who they will be mixing with every evening.

Still, we soldier on.

Then I have the big clear out still happening, as well as improvements being made on the house, a build up to another new beginning, hopefully.

I’m tired from a few days in school, as well as hefting boxes around, but it’ll be worth it in the end.

And finally, I’ll be beginning my 46th voyage around the sun on Thursday.

Yes, I will be turning 45! Eeeek! What can I do to celebrate, when I will be in school and also taking a child for teeth extractions?

I don’t know, but there is something you wonderful readers could do for me.

The book, Marriage Unarranged, is on sale from now, until Thursday evening, on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

99c/99p.

A bargain!

It would be amazing if you could download your copy, and/or share this offer, so my book baby could get out into the world, even further!

That would be the best birthday present ever, to see my book rankings going up, even for a few days.

Right, now I am off to try and do some more clearing up!

So… tell me, is there anything you are planning on starting over?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps. And enjoy your week! ❤

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 286 – Busy Bee

23 Aug 2020 38 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Break, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

Hey guys, just to say Spidey is having a break today, because the big clear out is taking its toll on us both!

Still so much to do, but not many days left before we to back to school, where I’ll be juggling house stuff along with the new school systems in the new year, with my new management role!

Wish me luck, Peeps!

Stay safe, all ❤

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 285 – The Big Clearout

16 Aug 2020 38 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Clearout, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

Never put off til tomorrow, what you could do today. Actually, you should have done it yesterday!
Proverb, edited by Ritu

Well, thank you, Spidey!

You’ve caught me in the midst of a HUGE clear out.

So big, we’re gonna need a skip.

Extremely needed because we have work that needs doing around the house, and the less stuff we have, to move, the better.

Wardrobes that need dismantling, books, CDs, DVDs that need selling or giving away.

Attic filled with junk that needs to go, or be brought down.

The plan is that we get this place ship shape again, so we can put it on the market. Then finally get to the stage where we are able to find our forever home, with more space for the kids, and an office space for me/Hubby Dearest, too.

We’ve wanted to do this for ages, but you know what it’s like. You keep putting it off. We did get quotes for work, in February, then as Covid-19 took over, the whole thing got the breaks put on.

Even though school was open, I was in and out, especially the first couple of months. Should have been an ideal time to do this. But did I?

Nope. I was busy on the computer for work, then I just got down… and before I knew it I was back to school. And the last three weeks of the holiday? I have been writing, but hesitating to do these things. Hubby has been working from home, so it’s hard for him to stop, and do things too.

Stupid, stupid me.

But at least we finally started, yesterday. Aand Hubby Dearest has the week off, too, so here’s hoping we get more done that we need to!

Emptied Lil Man’s wardrobe, then had a good clear out of the room, dismantled his wardrobe, and installed a clothing rack for now.

FYI, the wardrobes in our bedrooms are all on their last legs, hence the dismantling, plus, they are too heavy to just move, so we can paint the walls behind, so it’s better to get them out, now.

Maybe we’ll get so sick of the rails that we’ll get the house on the market quicker, and end at our new house destination sooner than we thought!

Wish us luck!

So… tell me, what do you need to do TODAY, that you keep putting off?

So… tell me, are you following the Euro Matches this year

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 284 – The Joy Of Reunion

09 Aug 2020 49 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Family, Parents, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you.”
Desmond Tutu

Such a blessed quote, Spidey. Thank you very much.

Depending on the time you read this, I will either be preparing, packing, travelling (in sweltering heat), or sat at a safe distance from my parents.

Yes, finally, after eight months, thanks to this God forsaken virus, we have made the decision to take a short trip for a few days to be with Pops and Mum.

I’ve sat here, constantly, watching the news and all the updates. Thankfully where they are, and where we are, aren’t in any sort of lockdown situations.

So, after a hearty brunch, and making sure everyone has used the bathroom before we leave, we shall head off to Brum. The hope is that we have no need to stop at services, and fingers crossed for a clear route so we are there within the three hours (not least because my air conditioning is not working, again, and we are going through a real heatwave at the moment!).

I think this has been the longest time that has passed where I haven’t seen my parents. It has been really tough.

I worry about them, and at the height of the pandemic, and lockdown, there was no chance of going to them, then when restrictions began lifting, I was back in school, so again, no chance.

The last two weeks of holidays have been filled with appointments so finally we have the time to go, with no worries.

Video calls have been a blessing, for sure, but nothing beats actually being with them.

I know we will need to distance, but I’m just going to thank God we are able to be with them.

So, who have you missed the most, during the period of lockdown?