Right now, we’re all spending a lot more time at home together.
Even essential workers who leave the house still find themselves confined to home more than they used to.
I’m doing the work-from-home job that previously gave me several uninterrupted hours each day.
I’m now a 2nd and 3rd grade teacher—at the same time.
And a full-time cook.
None of us have had a break from each other longer than the time it takes to shower.
The kids argue more.
We’re anxious.
We’re on edge.
Many of the things that “fill our cup” are gone.
We miss friends and family. We miss outings. We miss the normal routines that used to anchor us.
Life feels strange right now.
It isn’t bad—at least not for our small family; we’re safe and not ill—but it is different and more stressful.
Stress surrounds us, much of it beyond our control.
What I can control is when to put the pencil down if fractions become overwhelming.
I can choose teaching methods that suit our current situation instead of pushing worksheet after worksheet.
We step away when I start to stumble teaching topics I don’t clearly remember myself.
We are prioritizing our sanity at the top of the list.
Are we abandoning school? Not at all. We get up and work every day. One advantage of remote learning is flexibility: we can choose when to tackle lessons. When everyone is too drained to focus, I suggest we play a game together instead.
School and learning remain important, but for now the mental health of this household takes precedence over the daily grind of schoolwork.