Longest Term Ever

Term 2 was such a weird term thanks to Covid 19.  Most of the time the beginning of each term goes really slow and then it seems to speed up and before we know it, it's holidays again.  This term it just dragged on and on and on. 

As an essential worker I went to work every day.  At the school I work at we had quite a lot of students who were at school because they couldn't be supported at home, so we were dealing with kids at school and also kids learning at home.  

My boys all did learning at home.  They enjoyed being able to sleep in and do the learning at their own pace, but Kobe didn't cope very well without me around.  I would get home from work and there was lots of frustration from both of us (let's just say I wasn't 'mother of the year' this term!) as I would have to help him finish off his work each day. 

Because I'm an essential worker he could've gone the whole time, but we thought we would see how it went at home.  He only lasted a couple of weeks before we both couldn't cope anymore, and we decided it was time to go back to school.  He was so happy to go back, and I was so happy to get home from work and not have to help him with school work all night!  It ended up being only two more weeks until all primary school students could go back.

High School students didn't go back to school till week 7.  Harri didn't mind and really got used to learning at home, but missed the social side of things.  Once restrictions were eased in Tasmania and you could exercise with more than one person, he was glad that he could meet up with friends and play basketball.  He enjoyed redecorating his room and has moved Aaron's basketball cards to above his bed.

It was nice to have Jay home but he really wanted to be back in Hobart with all his new friends he made at the beginning of the year.  I loved getting home from work and knowing that all three boys were home together. 

I still cant believe that Harri is so much taller than Harri!

I know my boys have grown up, but sometimes it just really hits me when I see them all together.

It was so nice to have restrictions eased just before the long weekend.  Harri had to work so he and Jay stayed home for the weekend, but Kobe and I went to stay at Mum's.  This little road side stand on the road on the way always has people stopping at it.

The weather was so nice all weekend.  We have been so lucky with the weather this winter.  We've had so many lovely sunny days, which makes me not hate winter so much.



We were so happy to have restrictions eased and to be able to get out and about again, that the next weekend we decided to do a day trip to Devils Gullet. I had seen lots of people's photos from there and thought it looked amazing and was keen to finally go. Harri had to work (again) so he didn't come, but we met Mum in Deloraine and went together from there.

It said it was 45 minutes return, but it was a very quick walk to top. 

 

The view from the top was amazing! 

We were so happy when the state government announced that primary school students could all start back at school in week 5.  It was so good to have the students back.  My student's parents often spoil me by sending home cooked food.  It's always the best day when I have fresh momos (dumplings) for lunch or jalebi (a sweet). 

I have a new student from Eritrea and we have been talking about the different food they eat.  As she has limited English I always google pictures to show her what I'm talking about.  When she told me they eat porridge, I googled porridge and she looked very confused.  She told me that Eritrean porridge was different to Australian porridge, and brought me some to try one morning.  It was so different but really tasty. 

In term 2 we were learning about migration to Australia and one of the countries we learnt about was Vietnam. My Vietnamese student brought along some Vietnamese dong (money) for us to look at.  I haven't been able to travel much in my life, but I feel very lucky to be able to experience parts of my student's cultures with them.

Harri has struggled for a couple of months with a bad back.  We've been seeing our chiropractor a lot and have been trying to figure out what the problem is and why it is taking so long to heal.  He wasn't too sure about the gown when he went to have an x-ray. 

Uni classes are still online, but with restrictions being eased Jalen was happy to be able to go back to Hobart.  I was happy for him to go back, as I know he's going to have a lot more fun down there, but he also needs to be down there to this semester to make a short film.  I was a proud mum when he told me he wanted to buy a plant to take back down for his room.

We are so lucky as we've had over 50 days of no cases of Covid 19 in Tasmania.  It was nice to be home together for a few months, but we are so glad that things are pretty much back to normal here.  I'm hoping that term 3 isn't as long as term 2 was.