Bonjour lecteurs! Time to write about what happened last month. I usually called this kind of posts my monthly highlights but with the current crisis, it feels so weird to say so! Looking back, I am happy we made some good memories before the country got to stop totally because of COVID-19… We had a great night out just before it all started and we were asked to stay at home. Anyway, here is March 2020 à la Frenchie!
On The Blog
The blog got busier than ever at the start of March 2020. Indeed, I took part in the Letters on Motherhood campaign to celebrate Giovanna Fletcher‘s last book and I took l’opportunité to reflect on my experience on parenting.
If you fancy a read, regardez my Letter on Motherhood now.
And if you need to cheer up while staying at home, check out our Mother’s Day giveaways now! We have over £680 worth of goods for you to grab! But let’s go back to the rest of our life!
Enjoying Nature
Ironically, before we had to stay at home with COVID-19, we had many family days outdoors with Baba!
The first weekend of March, we discovered Mote Park, which is a huge public space in Maidstone.
We also went on a walk in some local woods before enjoying a pub lunch.
Those were two lovely days with my boys that I want to remember.
London Too!
But I also had some good time in town. Par exemple, Maidenform treated me to an afternoon of pampering at the beautiful ME London hotel.
Not only I was able to see the brand’s latest collection and try some of its range, but I also enjoyed a beautiful photoshoot. At the time, it was all starting and nothing was officially closed.
A Night At the Strand Palace Hotel
Now I feel luckier than ever that we had one last night out in London before the lockdown!
We managed to get a romantic evening at the Strand Palace Hotel with Grumpy Boyfriend. It was obviously lovely to stay in a magnificent hotel.
We also went to see Message In A Bottle at the Peacock Theatre.
And let’s not forget that we had some fabulous food and some cheeky cocktails.
It was literally our last night of freedom before the storm…
And I don’t feel like I am exaggerating by using this word! From that moment, it’s just been a weird nightmare.
Homeschooling & Staying At Home
March 2020 took a crazy turn on the third week.
It started with all the schools being officially closed a week before the Easter break.
Now more than ever, I am so grateful for teachers! We are lucky because Baba is still small and we did a lot of learning through play.
But homeschooling while trying to work has had its challenges. I pretty much did all of it as Grumpy Boyfriend still has more work than me.
And it followed with the official lockdown. I am not a happy bunny at home all day. I am a very sociable person and I love going out and about ?
Keeping Busy At Home
So the whole ‘Stay at Home‘ movement has had its ups and downs.
Like many other freelancers, work became really quiet and I started to really worry.
Even today writing those lines, it is at the back of my mind. And despite trying to relax about la situation, my body has let me down big time over the last few days. I got really sick. I still feel quite weak at the minute. But it shall pass!
The truth is that we can not control it and I should therefore not worry, but I am not doing a great job at it.
The news and social media, with its overshare of information (way too often unverified!), really affected me.
So I am trying to look after myself. Some days, even getting dressed properly and not staying in my PJs is what it takes to make me feel hopeful encore.
I have also read beaucoup, to escape it all!
Nature
Now more than ever, I feel so lucky to live in the country!
We have rediscovered our local woods in this crisis. Our daily walks are helping us to get some fresh air. But also to remain sane in my mind!
And Baba looks so cool in his new Lola Starr Jacket. You can change the sleeves for different styles! I will always remember that day in the woods. It felt absolutely magical to walk freely in such a beautiful place.
I have taken one day at a time, even if it is still very frustrating. I am a lady who likes to have some fixed goals and many events in the diary.
I am very sociable and this introvert life imposed on us is taking its toll. I miss seeing our family and friends.
But I feel grateful for all those extra moments I got to spend with Baba.
Happy Baba
Even if he is bien sûr aware of what is going on, Baba is pretty oblivious to the current situation.
He has a sense that something is up. After all, he can work out that there is un problème when the playground is closed!
But he has rather been content over the last two weeks at home. He loves the extra attention, the food and the extra dose of cartoons! ?
March 2020 – The Storm Will Be Over!
Looking back at March 2020, I have very mixed feelings.
On one hand, I am ever so happy we had some lovely days out before the crisis. But on the other hand, I am very uncertain of the future and the state of the economy as everything is shut down.
I am fully aware that we are all in it together on this one. But I can not wait for life to begin again.
Nature is blossoming and the sun is out. It is time our existence gets back to normal, or at least there is some progress…
But I feel grateful that we are all healthy and we can still enjoy each other’s company without massive arguments!
How are you currently feeling about COVID-19? How much has it affected you? How did you get on with homeschooling or working from home?
Such a strange time we are witnessing… But I am hopeful for April! I really hope we will be out and about again ASAP. Otherwise, my next monthly highlights will be a bit boring! ?
Disclosure: This post may feature some sponsored content I previously published on the blog. But it is merely a summary list of the month! And a post for me to reflect on our life. Merci for reading my blog as always!?
Glad you got out and had some fun before lockdown. Love that spotty dress xxx
glad you got some time out before the lock down
Good thatyou got out before the shut down set in, who knows when we will all get out again!
Perfect timing and great memories xx
I can’t believe it’s been that long already as an introvert it’s been going really fast
Great that you got out and about. Looking good too.
It’s good that you are able to go for a daily walk in the fresh air.
I think we will all be happy once we can return to some form of normality.
Looks like you have had lots of fun before lockdown!
Struggling into my 4th week of self isolating ? missing my family so much ❤️
You look like you are both having a wonderful time – such nice memories to think about during this time.
You look like you are both having a wonderful time – such nice memories to think about during this time.
We are doing ok, getting those jobs done which we have never got round to, sorting the garden out, but bordem is begining to set in and like you we are missing our family and friends
Looks great fun!
Lots of lovely pictures and memories to look back on
We’ll all great through this – memories are the perfect way
How lovely, it makes you appreciate going out!
So glad you had that before lockdown I am really struggling I miss my 6 year old grandson . We’ve had him so much since he was born while his mum and dad work so it’s very painful ?
Lovely memories for you to look back on. We will come out of this the other end, it may take time but as long as we are all safe.
SO good to get that time outdoors with the little one. He looks very happy!
It feels weird like the days have blended into one long weekend
What a lovely night, I wish I had gone out too, going out is going to be so amazing when this is over.
Like you I am really appreciating living in the country and managing to go for daily walks.
Glad you got out before lockdown and what a lovely collection of photos. The weather looks much nicer down south. Glad you had a nice month xx
Love the pictures, great memories to get through this lockdown xxx
It’s a rollercoaster. Alot to keep me busy at home. Moved most online with Zoom etc. Have needed to build in self care. It’s a rollercoaster. Just thank goodness it has happened at the time of technology. Trying to take it one day at a time. This isnt going to be completely over for a good while
It’s certainly a very strange time. Lovely photos, really raised my mood!
Hope you are now well on the road to recovery and are feeling more your usual self.
It’s been a difficult time but great you had some lovely positive events at the beginning of March to look back on 🙂
I can’t wait for this lockdown to be over and for everyone to feel safe again.
Enjoying your blog and updates during these uncertain times. Hope you’re all keeping well xxx
It will be fantastic when we can all get out again for some fun days out
Thanks for such an uplifting post
It looks like you made some lovely memories before the lock down happened! We’ve been getting on okay with schoolwork, they’ve been happy to have a break from all that this week though and are very much looking forward to easter!
Oh love the sound of a pub lunch right now!
It all seems a long time ago…
I feel like I took it for granted that I could go out whenever I wanted
Sorry to hear you’ve been unwell and that work has slowed down. March 2020 will be a month that we all remember and not for good reasons.
The sun is shining and you can still enjoy nature walks with your Baba. Best wishes.
Looks like the little one was really enjoying your family time. He’s such a cutie. Hope you are all well x
Lovely photos of both of you, visiting places before the lock down
Sounds like you had a lot of fun. Hope you are doing ok through lock down.
Loads of bonus fun to be had!
Looks great, I love reading your blogs and watching how little one is growing up.
Great memories and pics
You were lucky to get out before all of this hit, memories are what keep us going through the dark times
Looking forward to your new adventures after the lock down
You had some lovely days, it seems like a distant memory that we could go out and enjoy nature without being super paranoid. Wonderful memories.
Delighted to see that you had a lovely night in London before the lockdown. It is easy to forget that couples need a little time to themselves when life gets busy. I hope it is not too long before you – and all of us – can enjoy nights out again.
Looking at these photos makes me sad that we aren’t allowed out but happy that soon enough we will be back out and we will plan lots of fun filled days out when we can
This makes me want to go out and stay in as many places as I can visit when this madness is over!
I am coping alright with being at home and feel very lucky that we have a garden we can enjoy as many people don’t.
I keep trying to remain positive and have been doing so many crafts with my little ones.
I miss shopping as a family, going out in the car, going out for meals etc.
Everything we took for granted before is no longer an option I find that quite tricky to come to terms with!
On a more positive note, My daughter Heidi and I have really enjoyed looking at your instagram videos. Heidi has been trying to learn French whilst viewing them 🙂
We have our ups and downs with lock down. In some ways I appreciate the down time but the uncertainty is horrible and my daughter is climbing the walls. Hope you guys are all good x
We’ve not been too bad apart from hubbies work, he’s on furlough so still finding out ho all that will work. The biggest struggle is not seeing our kids and our 3 month old grandaughter they grow so quick so carn’t wait to get back to seeing her!
I love reading your blog, you take lovely photos! I’m glad you managed to get out and done some fun bits before this chaos began. You realise at times like this how little things like being able to go shopping or go out for a meal we take for grated. Stay safe x
I think the worst thing is not knowing how long it will last – we will never take the ordinary things in life for granted again
I love reading your blogs, to see where you have been.
Also working from home is great because don’t have the travel but then I miss the social interaction with my colleagues
Looks like you had some great times , I love London it’s a great place look forward to visiting again soon
Ah, yes. The Playground is Closed sign requires some explanation! Pleased to see that your Baba is oblivious to the problem and very happy, anyway.
I fancy seeing Message in a Bottle. Was it any good?
Wow I’m glad you all had an amazing time before lockdown
We love going into the woods, and we see what we can find in nature and turn it in to craft work at home
Looks amazing, it’s all these great memories that are keeping us all going in this lockdown
Fantastic!
Looks like you had a great time.
Glad you had some fun before the storm arrived!
Looks like you had a lovely time before lockdown. I didn’t get much chance to do much before the lockdown due to working! Now I’m off work for 12 weeks and am enjoying the extra time with my little boy 🙂 I do miss being able to hop in the car and go wherever we like, but we have started finding some countryside walks close to home to keep us occupied
Looks like lots of fun! What a shame lockdown has put a dampener on everything for now
One day we will all be able to have a fun day out in London.
homeschooling can be a bit of a struggle but i cant really do much but do my best! hopefully things will get better soon x
Looks like you had such a fantastic time