This is Not Our Normal!

This week several of my public school friends have reached out to me asking, "How do you do this?"  Our state has issued a stay at home order until the end of April to flatten the curve of Covid-19. Our schools are all closed.  My friends are now trying to teach their kids at home.   I can't imagine the emotions they are feeling as they take on such a huge task.  If that's you,  I hope this is an encouragement to you.  What you're doing is not what I do.  Here is why. 

I have had years to figure out this homeschooling thing.  You had days!  I get to pick what curriculum I use and what subjects I teach.  I spend weeks planning our days.  You are getting lessons and links from multiple teachers.  You are being told this is what you have to do! 

My kids have never been away from me.  In the homeschooling world we have a term for the kids who leave public or private school to homeschooling.  It's de-schooling.  Basically it's giving your kids an academic break to get used to being at home.  Your kids didn't get that!

We go to the library multiple times a week.  I tried to stock up before the library closed. 

What I am doing right now is not our normal homeschool day.  We don't ever stay home.  We have classes we attend weekly,  we go to the library multiple times a week, we take field trips,  our kids play sports, are involved in girl scouts and 4H, on nice days like today we would normally skip the book work and meet up with friends at the park (we take spring days not snow days).  We are missing people just as much as everyone else.

This is not how we usually have a date with friends!  

Some of you are still working!  I am blessed to get to stay home with my kids.  Those of you in essential jobs are working all day then coming home to try to help your kids with whatever they couldn't do without you.  All of that plus your normal household responsibilities.  There is just not enough time in the day to accomplish all of that.

For those of you that are stressed because you feel that you're letting your kids down relax, everyone is in the same boat.  My kids are going crazy and ask daily how much longer until we can see our friends.  As one of the extroverts in the house, I try to remind them this isn't easy for me either.  But it won't last forever!  I'm trying to remain calm and see the blessing of being together during this time.    I pray for those of you that have asked me about homeschooling for years that you're are not convinced you could never do this.  Because I know you can!   For those of you that are loving the last few weeks and realizing maybe you could do this full time, when this is all over let's grab a Coke and talk!