DIARY OF A ‘LOCKED DOWN’ MOTHER (2)

By Oris Ikiddeh

IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19 IN ABUJA, NIGERIA’S FEDERAL CAPITAL CITY

KEEPING UP — PART TWO

The children are at home, so the whole house is full and busy.

So, how are we doing with food?

I made zobo (hibiscus flower) drink. Hmmmm… so nourishing, everyone loved it. It was so refreshing, especially with the very hot Abuja weather. A chilled glass of zobo after lunch is a great idea, besides it is natural.

Did you notice that the yams are going down fast? Now, because we are all at home all day, no fast and hard rules about exact eating times. In my house, yam is eaten in different ways — boiled, mashed, fried — but I tell you, fried yam carries the day!!!

What else did you notice is running low fast? Beverages (milk, milo and sugar/honey) and cereals.

I think we should be prudent in our spending, there will definitely be life after COVID-19.

So, what do we do as mothers, making sure everyone at home eats well yet our ‘barns’ are not empty, and our pockets dry in one week?

Think about these:

1. Please do not buy too many perishable items at once.

2. Have a set time for meals and prepare for snack times in between meals if you have little or young children.

3. Ensure you have at least two types of fruits at home. There are still a few places you can get fruits though they might be slightly more expensive.

4. Get a high dose of Vitamin C for the whole family.

5. Ensure that everyone drinks enough water to keep hydrated.

6. Take walks around your house and keep busy.

7. If you go out, please do not forget to put on your mask and take your sanitizer along.

Let’s continue this conversation again soon. When I come back, we’ll be talking about keeping the children busy indoors.

REMEMBER, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND STAYING INDOOR REMAINS THE ONLY PREVENTIVE MEASURE AGAINST COVID-19

PS: You can read the part one here.