2020….

I know I’m a little late to the party wishing everyone a Happy New Year, however I decided to take a break. No blogs or social media and just breath over my Christmas/New Year period.

But what a year 2020 was! And what a start to 2021. Really those few words hardly encapsulate what some have been through. I know for my family we had it harder than others, but I also know that many others had it far worse than us. Now this isn’t a post to compete on who had it worse, but instead I want share some lessons and reflections from 2020.

When medical disaster struck Hubby we were lucky that we had such fantastic medical support. Especially at the height of our State’s pandemic response in April. I was always just behind the restrictions easing. When Hubby first landed in hospital, that morning the restrictions had eased to one visitor. However QLD Health and our private specialists started to embrace phone conferencing. We had been asking if this was possible for for the last 5 years! Thank you pandemic for getting our medical team to fully embrace that technology.

Even before the pandemic I had already “pulled” my oldest from school to home educate him. Once Hubby become sick I also did the same for my younger son. We spent 2020 as a family learning together. I do not regret home educating either of my sons, however 2021 looks like they will return to an education institution called school. What I enjoyed most about the home education experience was getting to know my boys at a deeper level as they head into their teenage years. Once both boys realised their day looked oh so different from a school day, they were able to fully persuade their own interests. Both boys enjoy cooking and now cook one evening meal a week each. I discovered how wickedly funny both my boys are but in different ways. I would never have got that experience without having had the pandemic hit nor if Hubby hadn’t become as sick as he did.

2020 showed me the generosity, support and true friendships I have in my life. I always knew my boss was a generous and supportive man, but when illness took hold over my family he was able to give me all the time off I needed and then some. For that I will be eternally gratefully and thankful for. My colleagues were amazing and friends and family were always on hand for whatever we needed.

As terrible as 2020 was I am so thankful for all that happened. As a result my family is stronger, developed greater resilience and far greater focus on what we want from our lives. So thank you 2020, I will always remember the lessons that were taught and continue to strive forward with all that 2021 will bring. I hope that you are able to look back on 2020 and realise that there was lot on offer from that year for all of us.