What I did when my kid's school was left without water
This week, I’ve been reflecting on how we expect our kids to be patient, yet often struggle to practise patience ourselves.
The recent water shortages have left many of us feeling frustrated. This week, we’ve been forced to navigate life amid the return of stage 4 load shedding, coupled with the unsettling unpredictability of waking up to no water.
It's a recipe for madness and can overwhelm even the most chilled person.
Late last week, we woke up to no water, which while not ideal, did force me to think about the people who have lived without running water for years in the eThekwini district. This humbled me, making me look at the situation differently.
After all, it was Wayne Dyer who said, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."
So often we tell our kids not to waste water, be patient and practise gratitude and mindfulness in their daily lives, but how many of us can say with absolute conviction that we do the same thing in our day-to-day routines?
When I was told my child's school was also without water, I had to think quickly about how I would handle this. The school said we could either keep kids at school or take them home.
Remember, all this happened just days after we received a notice from school about two cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease.
What was I to do?
Luckily, I work from home, so I decided to take my son and niece home with me, playing the role of relief teacher and work-from-home mom all in one go.
This was no small task. These two kids have big personalities and are in the prime of their five-year-old years, so you better believe I had to put on my big girl shoes and show them that patience and kindness don’t mean being a pushover.
I've always considered myself a firm parent. I never thought I could be, but I've learnt being firm doesn't have to mean being harsh or fiery. That said, I can’t deny that I’ve let out a little fire here and there – if you know, you know.
I took the day in my stride, calmly telling them I’d be their teacher and we'd be homeschooling. I may have teaching experience, but let’s be real – it’s not quite the same as being a qualified Foundation Phase Teacher.
I set up activities and planned their day with a mix of schoolwork and playtime. While it wasn’t as organised as I would’ve liked, it was a success. Navigating the challenges of no water reminded me how often we choose to complain rather than accept our circumstances and make the best of them.
Silly me for thinking that I was the teacher these past few days – it was the kids who schooled me. They taught me that putting yourself first is the key to happiness, and that being around negativity doesn’t mean you have to be negative; you choose who you want to be each day.
They also showed me that laughter and play are natural, feel-good, free remedies. But above all, they reminded me that staying present in every moment is vital because you won't get it back once that moment has passed.
The water returned in some areas, and for that, I can confirm that life is a lot more bearable for everyone.
But this experience makes me wonder: what kind of world are we creating for our kids if we don’t show them how to be resilient in the face of everyday challenges?
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