ESTHER JONES

Sometimes, it's easy to feel confident. Seeing a child curled up reading a book, looking up ingredients to do some baking, or just getting cross about politics in the kitchen. At these times, I can't help but think that all is well. We look like someone's idea of what this should look like. We are relaxed, busy and all getting on with meaningful things. Luckily, just as I'm at risk of feeling smug, things change their natural course. Suddenly, the house has gone silent, and w

Well, life in semi-lockdown goes on, and we've had plenty of time to settle into new rhythms. Human beings are certainly adaptable creatures. What would have been unthinkable just months ago seems relatively normal now. It's true that a lot of conversations start with a hopeful, 'After lockdown...', but generally the days pass peacefully enough and we're all keeping ourselves busy in our own ways. This morning we went up the hill behind us with C's new kite. We did quite well

I was at an event in a local primary school with D and C a few months ago. It was friendly and cheerful enough with lots of colourful pictures and creative projects covering the walls. Then, on the way out, I caught sight of a sign on a noticeboard. It said that the local council were offering a trophy that would be awarded each week to a different class. This would be the class that, 'Comes into assembly quietly. Listens respectfully. Sits sensibly. Leaves assembly quietly'.