Blog: alumna Mayke shares her 'lockbook'
Alumna Mayke Pothof is keeping a daily 'lockbook' with pictures of her home and kids. She shares these updates with her father and mother in law, as they cannot see their grandchildren anymore. Mayke also has some lockbook notes for you, providing humourous tips and tricks about living and working at home (with kids). She shares them below.
''Stormy Corona weather we are in! Since two weeks, I am a ‘working@home’ mum as HR Consultant for the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University. I live in Belgium, 17 kilometers across the border and used to bike every day to my work in the Maastricht inner city until the middle of March.
Now I am 'stuck' with my three sons (12, 14 and 16) and two cats, grateful for our lovely country home. My husband is still happy to go to work every day. I bike to Maastricht 3 times a week now to take care of my 83-year-old father, legally crossing the borders much quicker than by car. Moreover, I share a daily 'lockbook' with pictures of home and the kids with my father and mother in law, as they cannot see their grandchildren anymore.
I also have some lockbook notes for you with tips and tricks. I am trying to make the best out of this period and luckily, this works most of the time :) .''
Monday
''What really helps is the humor we share among colleagues on the 'FSE Inclusive Safespace' WhatsApp group. What also stimulates me is the time I took for myself to ground and sense what is happening by doing early morning meditation. Can I still feel the inner silent spot in the midst of the storm? Yes, not always, but I know it is there. What also works well is doing sports, like biking, running and finally using the trampoline again.''
Tuesday
''In Belgium, the kids do not have a lot of homework. I hate to see my sons gaming but as it is, I also subscribed to Netflix. Why put yourself and the kids on extra pressure? However, we agreed every morning I would wake them up at 9 am. I do this with the djembe or just by softly whistling in their rooms and we have breakfast together. I am happy the kids have each other, as visiting their friends is not possible anymore. And in a way, gaming is some kind of social activity, too.''
Wednesday
''I introduced my kids earning some money by doing non-regular chores like folding the washes (really funny results if I look into my drawer…), cooking (turning bitches, pancakes, homemade pizza, mac& cheese, and so on) and cleaning the house for 5 euro an hour. I still love healthy cooking as well, so I ensure fruits and vegs on the menu – however, I will gain some weight I am afraid.''
Thursday
''My workflow is of course not as efficient taking care and working at the same time. I have great management uttering their understanding and this is very important and comforting to me. I discovered some new routines, like old-fashioned calling a colleague by phone; this is of course also personal contact. Moreover, I like to join an interesting webinar on a topic I like (e.g. from training institute ITIP) or just start my day early while the kids are (still) sleeping.''
Friday
''One last tip from me: if you have the room, why don’t you design two different working spots in your home? I start my day in the living room with sunshine and in the afternoon, I walk to our “garden room with fireplace”, following the sunshine… Because what a silver lining the weather gave us these last weeks!
Take care.''
Mayke Pothof graduated from the School of Business and Economics of Maastricht University. She is working for UM as well; Mayke is HR Consultant for the Faculty of Science and Engineering.