Our pre-Christmas coronavirus lockdown has reminded us of the pandemic’s bleakest times

With his son isolating, and a return to home schooling, Will Gore tries to keep a sense of perspective amid tantrums and video calls with Santa

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

‘Twas the nightmare before Christmas, when all through the house

My dear son stirred constantly, his fire undoused…

All in all, we have been lucky. Back in June, my son’s school year was one of those to reopen for a couple of in-person teaching days per week, restoring some semblance of normality to his life and ours after those early, desperate months of the pandemic. And since September, he and my daughter – at infant and junior schools respectively – have been taught in class without interruption.