Elaine and I don’t have any plans to integrate our kids back to in-person learning anytime soon. As the CDC continues to post some pretty alarming COVID stats, we’ve decided to stay locked down for the rest of the school year, barring any surprises. But, among others, I mourn for my kids. They miss their friends, their teachers, and the general feng shui of school that’s become such a part of their lives.
As an at-home parent of school-aged children, I miss my time off.
On the upside, the kids are killing it. Every morning, they rush downstairs to eat breakfast, talk my pre-caffeinated soul half to death, then back upstairs to jump on their computers and begin the day.
After all is quiet, I grab a cup of coffee and sit down to write. Around 9:00, Hannah runs downstairs to grab a snack, tell me something awesome about school, then run back upstairs to sit for another hour or so. About 5 minutes later, Amara does the same. It’s adorable.
At the end of the day, I get an earful about the things they’ve learned, funny stuff their classmates said, etc. Their level of excitement is nothing short of baffling. While I’m proud of them, none of this would be happening without their teachers who’ve tirelessly faced the headaches of online learning every day since this mess started. Now, they’re dealing with online and in-person learning – an entirely new level of hardship. I couldn’t do it. I don’t many who could. These folks aren’t just showing up, they’re bringing a level of energy and optimism that I struggle to find on my best days, even during cocktail hour.
Without their energy and commitment, things would be much more difficult.
No doubt that the kids benefit the most from this, but I’m writing to tell you how this has been hitting me. Pandemic lockdown is one of the most depressing eras I’ve ever experienced – I can’t think of a more downer period in my brief history here. If I had to home-school the kids, or worse, fight with them throughout the day about sitting behind a computer for hours, I’m not sure how long I’d last.
I don’t know what drives these people beyond a sincere desire to teach and to impact the lives of our kids. Even when things were “normal” it seemed like a long row to hoe, especially considering the average teacher’s salary.
Either way, if you’re one of these badass warriors, even one who’s not teaching my kids, I want to thank you. There are a few groups of people who are keeping our world stitched together right now and the teaching community is one of them. You are making a huge difference in all of our lives.
I’m sorry that our kids aren’t dressed a bit better for class – we operate under a don’t-show-up-naked sort of principle right now. And I apologize for all the times you’ve seen me in my bathrobe. I’m struggling to find much meaning in daytime clothes at the moment.
But rest assured that we are beyond OK. You’ve done so much to make this past year tolerable for us parents, and I have hope that, when this is all over, we’ll be fine. I hope the same for you, but I do worry that this past year – and the months to come – will have an impact on your desire to teach. As a Christian, I see you as a gift from God, cheezy as that sounds, and I pray that you’ll get through this.
Thank you so much for everything you do.
Photo by Thomas Park at Unsplash
And teachers thank parents who are making sure their kids are doing school, be it remote or in person. Keeps students accountable is a bit part of the battle.
True, but I think my end is easier than theirs 🙂
You and your children are very fortunate. I have a high school Junior who is bored with the lack of classroom engagement, sad and missing out on the developmental needs of our teenagers, restless and withdrawn at the loss of his friends and their ever encouraging laughter and camaraderie. So for many, especially our teens, it is time to give them back their lives…it is time to return to the classroom. They are being harmed, regularly and relentlessly.
Totally agree that this is doing some damage, but how much more is done if we go back to “normal?” If the CDC numbers are right, sending everyone back to school is far worse than 5 more months of online learning, bad as it is.