Sorry? 'Yippee, school's out'? My dear children, haven't you been on an extended break since mid-March?
Okay, let's have a little laugh (even if masks hide our smiles). Staying up late, sleeping in, park hangouts or window shopping every afternoon, sleepovers with friends, inviting them over... that's what we've been doing. Sure, there was one daily private lesson for my poor third-grader (now heading to second grade!), but it felt fabulous.
Joking aside, as a mom blogger with over 12 years of experience navigating family life, I've found deconfinement far trickier than lockdown. A responsible citizen, I wear my mask out of respect for others, venturing out fearlessly. I've hopped back on public transport and rediscovered my favorite terrace cafés with joy—team outdoor coffee all the way!
Yet, everything feels off-kilter, as my five-year-old might say (matching my current mental age). This endless school year that's technically over since March, dreamed-of vacations canceled (farewell, Madagascar), scrambling for a French rental to escape Paris... I confess: my ultimate dream is a solo hotel retreat with spa treatments and pampering. A thalassotherapy getaway would be ideal!
Meanwhile, this limbo is psychologically tougher than strict confinement, where we knew options were limited. Now it's yes... but no. Yes, with 15-minute baguette queues. Yes, but masked. Yes, but half-capacity. And don't get me started on the kids' middle schools—my third-grader only returned to drop off books, while the fourth-grader had two face-to-face days in June for a 'traditional' year-end farewell.
My recent instability stems partly from mid-May, when I left the communication agency I co-founded (leading its influencer marketing arm). I shared it briefly on Instagram, but details are still raw—unrelated to COVID, though I held on through this chaos. Now, I'm relaunching my freelance career in influencer marketing for the family sector (chakras aligned!). Check my LinkedIn while my site rebuilds. This aligns with my values: true deconfinement at home for now, with a small office planned for back-to-school to separate work and family. I'm rebuilding, networking, and pursuing exciting leads from trusted contacts—thank you! Hoping to share more soon. Here are my new colors:
Balancing it all, I work while my two teens breeze through. I'm buying train tickets galore to get them out this summer, pulling my soon-to-be-13-year-old from his room (adolescence incoming—I'm battle-tested with four years under my belt!).
Ah, and I'm planting on my beloved balcony too.
As a serial 'slasher' (multi-tasker), I've got another passion project brewing (despite procrastination). I'll keep it under wraps a bit longer, though I've shared outlines with some of you. It's a fresh angle, possibly a new site or medium, rooted in my 12+ years as a mom blogger at e-zabel.fr. It's passionate, non-monetized, but invaluable. I promise updates soon—and I'll need your support!
Phew, thanks for reading. Wishing you well. Strength to all parents closing out this extraordinary school year—see you soon!
