A day in the life (From Swindon Advertiser)

A day in the life

9:22pm Saturday 6th September 2008

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It’s been a week of changes for all of us here. It was back to school for four of the children on Wednesday, my eldest started secondary school on Friday and Alfie also started school then. In the meantime, I started my new job on Wednesday as well, so all in all, it’s been a busy week and a time for adjusting.

Despite all the change, things have remained remarkably calm around here (hope I have not spoken too soon!) and the routine of back to school and working seems to have done us all good. The added advantage is the fact that the kids are tired and going to bed earlier.

I have missed going into the Adver offices this week, but I have enjoyed settling into my new role as MDSA at the school.

I was a little apprehensive before starting the job and did wonder if I would cope with looking after so many children. I am used to having up to twelve or so children around and that is a struggle enough, but the thought of supervising a class of thirty was quite terrifying. But it’s been brill so far and I can honestly say that I have really, really enjoyed it. I am trying to remember lots of names at the moment and to get to know the children.

I have discovered that working with children seems to be really helping me in my role as a parent, which was a surprise. I had always felt before that it might be a good idea to work in a different area,in order to give myself a break from childcare. But working at the school and parenting are so very different and in actual fact I am not finding this a problem, in fact quite the opposite could be said.

Working with the children is really helping me to see things in a different light and with a fresh perspective. Going into a school means that you really get to experience what a child’s day is like and all that they do before coming home to you at the end of the day.

Working with the children is really helping me to see things in a different light and with a fresh perspective.

I have found that as a parent, I often make the mistake of getting so caught up in my own day and I have found it difficult to really appreciate what my children have been up to at school. Of course if any of them are having problems at school then I do get to hear about this, but sometimes you probably know what it’s like yourself, your conversations goes something like this: “So, what did you get up to at school today?”

“Um dunno ... Lots! Mum can I go play with so and so, or can I have a drink, or when’s dinner?”

Then if you are anything like me, you get distracted. After school I go into a mad frenzy of sorting through a mountain of school uniform, in order to see what can be salvaged for the next day, making them drinks and snacks, helping with homework, sorting out many of the minor scrabbles that come up, answering the door and phone constantly to their friends wanting to play and then cooking dinner. This is usually the time that they choose to open their little hearts to me and share every tiny detail of their day and to be honest I do try to listen, but nine times out of ten it’s impossible and I suggest we talk after tea.

Then by the time all is calm and the opportunity for chatting arises, they can’t remember what was so crucial at the time when you were juggling the phone, doorbell, washing machine, and microwave and sorting out a sibling squabble earlier. So it never gets said. Working at the school and seeing things through a child’s eyes becomes valuable and you really start to appreciate what their lives are like when you are not normally around.

I know that nowadays spare time is an increasingly rare commodity to us parents, with the pressures of work ever looming and life being lived in the fast lane, but I would strongly recommend for any parent to do a little volunteering at their child’s school. Even if you can only manage an hour or so, do it! You will be amazed at how fresh a perspective it gives you.