19 June 2020

June 2020

Dear Molly,

June 2020. Wow. Where do I start? We are in the midst of a global pandemic. Coronavirus has changed our lives immeasurably and we are currently in lockdown. No school, work from home, no friends, social distancing, Zoom calls, homeschooling, cancelled.....well....everything! When we look back on this time, it’ll be hard to believe that this all actually happened, but it did, it is and I am certain it will change us forever.

Wearing our ‘Storms don’t last forever’ rainbow badge from our friend Kat ❤️

We clapped for carers with our neighbours up
and down the country during the global pandemic #NHS

We couldn’t go canal boating at May half term so we camped in the back garden 💚


During lockdown, you have relished family time and home, you are quite a homebody. However, you have struggled more than I thought you would with missing school and your friends. It’s made me realise how much enrichment you get from outside of the home. It is your lifeblood. I feel guilty everyday that I have to work and can not give you all of my attention but, if the truth be told, I can not give you all you need. And so we set up Houseparty so you can call your friends. You all play Roblox together for hours on end. The chatter and laughter is infectious. Screen time is off the scale but, frankly, who cares. It is a little bit of joy in these strange times.

Since you were tiny, night times have been when you’re most anxious. When you were little I’d sit by the door until you fell asleep and I could leave. And now you hold out your hand to me, not wanting me to leave. At 9 years old, you still can’t quite articulate your feelings. Often it is a funny feeling in your tummy or throat. I try to understand and I will always be here for you.

As I have done for all of your years, I love you with every fibre of my being and I adore every fibre of your being. Sometimes I can’t breathe for the strength of my love for you. As time goes by, I have learnt that if you are ok, I am ok. If you are happy, I am happy and, if you are anxious, I am anxious. I just want to do what I can to make you feel safe and happy. These strange times are putting up hurdles that I wasn’t expecting and we are climbing over them together, as a family.  There is a lot going on in the world and I am explaining some big things to you as you question what you see around you right now. One thing I promise, have always promised, is that I will enable you to learn and I will let you form your own opinions. I am very proud of who you are becoming. Through this period, you have handled conflict, upset, distressing news items and restrictions in our freedom with a maturity and sensitivity that I am so very proud of.

Homeschooling is a challenge for everyone and I will remain grateful for the opportunity to shape your learning for this period. It’s not easy but I’ve enjoyed researching and learning with you. From race equality to yellow spotted river turtles to volcanoes to trolls, we will always remember the summer we ran school and our business from home, together, with our family and our massive cat.


I write to you to give you something to look back on in years to come, to give you something to remind you. Stay happy, stay kind, stay funny and don’t lose those wonderful 9 year old qualities which make you you.

        “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” Maya Angelou

I love you xxx