From: an (old) homeschool mom :
I see you. I read your posts about the frustration of trying to do school at home, stress seeping through the words as you try to create a tiny schoolroom experience at your kitchen table. A week has passed, but it seems much longer than that. The novelty had worn off by the third day.
Your kiddos are missing their routines and their friends and their teachers. And they might not know it, but you are also missing your routines and your co-workers (maybe they are friends after all, who knew?)
You don’t know how long this is going to last, whatever “this” is for you:
Having all the kids home from school.
Limiting social contact.
Working from home.
Spouse working from home.
All of the above.
You’re scared about the unknown future of the world, and your kiddos are scared about the confusing present in their world.
There are tears all around, and maybe words you can’t unsay.
And every morning you think-hope-pray, “Let today be a better day.” But then it isn’t.
We’ve never been here before, none of us,
not even (especially!) the home school crowd.
We’ve never been where you are, with all of our kids suddenly at home when we didn’t choose it- no preparation, no hours of book selection and planning-because of a world suddenly gone intense and viral and contagious.
And home school families, if we are honest, will tell you that we too have days when we aren't sure we're doing it right and nothing goes as planned and wow this is hard. (This plaque is hanging in MY house, so that should tell you something.)
These days, it's important to remind yourself to just breathe. Deeply. And hold it in a few seconds. And blow it out for a few seconds. And then do that again. And again. (It might help to teach your family how to breathe this way too - it's amazing how the anxiety level ratchets down as you simply breathe).
That's how we're going to get through this, all of us, one breath at a time.
What would you like to do with those hours?
What would your children like to do with those hours?
How can you make this work, this life that is changed, this life that is strange, this change that no one asked for?
How can you make this the kind of day that will have some moments that all of you will look back on with a smile when they have passed? (Because they will pass.)
So, while they’re home, you don’t have to be their teachers, but you do have more time to be the amazing parents you have been all along. Who taught your children language acquisition, mobility, and oh my - toilet training? You’ve already taught them so much, and you did it well.
During this unexpected gift of days spent together, what else could your children learn from you?
Hey parents, I believe we are going to get through this, together, and I think
your children will be better human beings in the long run because of what they learn during this unprecedented season of their lives...and they will have learned it from you.
See you tomorrow...(because we'll all be right here!)