A Tree on a Saturday but not this Saturday. Its different today. It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s windy. Thunder is rumbling all around us. Not really sunbathing weather. Not really the weather to stand anywhere near a tree on an exposed hill top. Another bright flash. Now hail.

A day for staying inside and dreaming.

Maybe in a few hours a trip out in the weather to an historic site. Should be quiet. That will help Hawklad.

This Saturday is now only 35 days from the start of the new school year. 35 days sounds a long time. Something like 3,000,000 million seconds. That does sound such a long time. But it isn’t. It really isn’t. Is it enough time to build life bridges. To move from finding quiet outdoor sites. Where the few people there are distant. Where you don’t touch any surfaces. You nervously cast glances at strangers. If space shrinks then you ask to leave. Is it enough time to build a bridge. To move to overcrowded classrooms. Classrooms with no ventilation. To being within inches of others. To sharing table surfaces, sharing learning materials, sharing classroom objects.

It feels like not enough time to build secure bridges. That’s the thing that some don’t understand. You can’t put a set timeframe on these things. There is no set time. Hawklad feels like he should try to go back to school. He should try for September. Any later and he’s joining a class part way through the year. Never an easy experience. But he is having doubts. Maybe it’s October. He has decided to push those thoughts and decisions to the back of his mind. Deal with those anxieties as September hits.

For what it’s worth I think a September return is way too early, fraught with so many risks that could bring those fledgling bridges down. His departing Health Professional feels exactly the same way. School thinks this is the perfect time to reintegrate him. The Government thinks that I am a bad parent for having these doubts. Childhood is about getting those qualifications the economy needs. Anxieties, mental health issues are excuses. Purely reasons for extended holidays.

So this Saturday feels stress filled. Maybe Hawklad is right. Put these thoughts to one side. Let’s see if we venture out. If we do then let’s see if some bridge building takes place. Let’s wait to see where those bridges lead to. You never know it could be to a better place. A place of dreams and contentment. Happiness. That’s what really counts this stormy Saturday.

27 thoughts on “Saturday”

  5. Sending love and prayers your way. Schools are starting here this next week. I can’t believe it. You have support, if even in this space alone. May faith override fear and kindness and good health spread your area. 💛🙏🏻

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  6. I’m at the age of repeating myself, something to the effect of: If you want regret get a past, if you want fear then get a future, but if you love peace dwell in the now.

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    1. p.s. I’ve just found something to give chocolate a run for its money, and that’s alpro single cream on red berries special k. 🥄 Now then, there’s a stress ~ less moment t’ bring on a feelin’ o’ being champion.

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  7. May you venture out. May you find hopeful signs to cling to. May bridges be built – all in their own good time and screw the freaking government – they don’t know you. They don’t know Hawklad. You are awesome. Hawklad is brave, but I do think you’re right. Follow your heart and your very sound judgement. You got this!!!!!

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  8. I hope you were able to venture out and both had a great day. The schools and the government do NOT know your son … you know your son and you know what he can handle, what’s best for him. The pandemic is NOT over, contrary to what some damn fools think, and there is still a very real danger. You … not the schools … will decide what’s best when the time comes. Now … come out from under that tree … remember the lesson of Ben Franklin and the kite? Hugs.

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