On the 17th of August 2021 at 11:59 pm, all of New Zealand moved to alert level 4 and went into lockdown. Auckland eventually moved into alert level 3 in September and we have remained in that level for the last two months. We have remained in this level while the government works on pushing for 90% fully vaccination rates across the country.
This is an ambitious goal that the New Zealand government has set out and I do support it but I constantly think about the implications of the (COVID-19) lockdown measurements. I think about the implications of what social isolation has caused in children and parents. I also think about the implications that this has caused on me and my children.
The pandemic has highlighted a number of issues that people are facing in New Zealand and around the world. People have experienced a range of challenges from social isolation, job insecurity, work-life balance, health and safety concerns, economic uncertainty and food insecurity.
While we are still in lockdown, I am writing my observations of what is happening with my family. As someone who is a single parent and currently working through this pandemic in lockdown. I do recognize that my experience will differ from single parents that work as essential workers, on income support or currently out of work. I do recognize that I am in a very fortunate and privileged position. I work in the technology field and work for a company that has given me the privilege of being able to continuously work throughout the lockdowns in my city.
As a single parent working for a company that has support systems in place for parents that are affected by lockdowns during this pandemic, this has been a privilege that I would most likely not have gotten if I was working elsewhere.
The truth is, my life is still challenging and I am juggling work-life balance constantly. My kids are under 10 years old and are extremely strong, independent and kind girls. They have been my rock throughout my life and they have been along this bumpy journey with me. I do worry about them constantly and wonder what the long term effects of social isolation are and constantly worry about their education.
They are constantly inside our apartment and away from all their friends and continuing online learning. We try to go out of the house daily for a walk or drive but lately I am physically exhausted to leave the house. This is because I am juggling cooking meals, shopping, cleaning, supporting the emotional needs of my children and trying to get an adequate amount of sleep. Then it is small things like if I do not get an online grocery order for food delivery, I have to find a supermarket that allows me to bring my kids inside. I learnt the hard way from the last lockdown that some supermarkets can be quite strict, the same thing happened to me in this lockdown. One supermarket told me that I could not come in with the kids, I turned around and told them I will not leave my kids alone in the car or alone at home.
Now if anyone is reading this and would probably be thinking where is the father?, where is my family or friends to help me through this. Unfortunately, I am not that privileged to have that connection and stability with family and I do not like to be a burden to friends.
Things are not all bad though, I get to spend more time with the kids which I have not spent this much time with since they were babies. Our relationship has grown and we have established healthy routines in the house. I do think I am quite resilient and all my life I have learnt that whatever life throws at me, I just have to keep on going. Because at the end of the day, what I am doing is not only for me but for my kids.
