Home School Blues

trepidation

• fear, apprehension, dread, fearfulness, apprehensiveness, agitation, anxiety, worry, nervousness, tension, misgivings, unease, uneasiness, foreboding, disquiet, disquietude, perturbation, discomposure, dismay, consternation, alarm, panic, trembling, jumpiness.

Yup, it's that time again, time to return to school for all of the school age kids out there. It's that time of year that we go out and get fresh cloths and new foot wear along with getting a haircut and/or pretty hairstyle for the first day of school. It's the time that parents and kids push all of the fear and uncertainty of the new school year to the back of their minds while they busy themselves with the fun part which is usually shopping in most families, it's like having Christmas in August.

Except this new school year is unlike any other school year that the child or parent has ever experienced. 2020 is the year of Covid-19, peaceful protests, looting, animals where they are not normally seen, back to back storms, tornado's, highlight on social injustice, an impeachment and a run for presidential candidacy and so much more. This is the time that we have to lead with some sense of normalcy in the face of our children and those close to us that may be struggling.

We had a tiny taste of what virtual learning would be when this pandemic first reared it's ugly head but now we needed to be fully vested in this online learning thing and we have to pretend to like it. Some parents are having to deal with a hybrid school schedule wondering how they will work with their kids being in school for part of the week, wondering how the kids will do independently because the start of of this pandemic back in March showed us that independent learning was not an option as most if not all of the assignments issued had to be interactive with parents and students, it was no easy task. Parents this is where reverse psychology comes in because you have to pretend to be excited and show no fear because if you show fear Your children's fear will illuminate like a neon light.

I picked up my daughters Chrome book last night to make sure that it worked and that i was able to log in for tomorrow which is now today. The moment i touched that computer a sense of panic engulfed me, i felt like i was sinking in my seat and felt my breathing start to increase. I had to shake that feeling off and get with the program so that my daughter didn't sense the fear i had of the unknown.

I was able to log on and sign up for all of her classes without issue so i am able to log in and log out pretty quickly. But just like the doctors office visits when you go there you are suddenly healed without issue. Well when i woke up this morning i was pretty confident that we would be for the 9 am google meeting that my daughter would have as her check in and introduction to the teacher or so i thought; that is until i realized that i was in the wrong google meet, go figure eventually i landed in the right one. I say all of that to say this: Make a plan and watch the devil laugh. All of that preparing for what? I emailed the teacher, checked and double checked the email i had received and still couldn't figure it out until eventually like i said I did but this is the type of stress that parents and children will have to deal with. The fear of just not knowing, the wonder if you will excel or fail with this new way. Parents and caregivers having to multitask while learning this new way of life. It's tough but know that it is worth every minute of confusion that you face. It will all pay off in the end.

This is what next year's first day of school will look like. Parents will be up the night before prepping for the race to drop their children off. Heck, i may be the leader of the pack.

But seriously, moms, dads, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and even the nanny's please be patient with your student and please be patient with your self. If things start to get overwhelming just stop. Walk away, contain yourself, don't panic, use your inside voice if you want to yell, maybe pray for patience, guidance and understanding. Know that you are not the only guinea pig in this thing. The entire world is struggling to find some sense of normalcy in the midst of our ever changing world.

When things really get overbearing in your mind think of the things that you can be grateful for such as the fact that you are alive to get agitated. The moral of the story is to find peace in yourself so that you can deliver peace to your children that may feel just as lost or confused as we do as parents. This is a new normal for them too.

I never wanted to be a teacher but they say if you have lemons than make lemonade. I have a kid so i guess ultimately i am a teacher too now so i just have to be the academically enhanced version of myself and teach. It's all in love

• Try to simplify your life by developing schedules for you, schedules and time frames for your student and allow some room for diversion from tasks.

• Remember that you can't schedule everything in life.

• If you do not know please ask and do not suffer in silence. A closed mouth does not get fed. If a person does not know they can't help you.

• Transparent communication is key.

• Do not turn school work into the enemy. If your child makes the same mistake 6 times please give them a 7th try. Repetitive actions develops habitual behavior.

• If you make school work fun maybe we can mentally convince ourselves that it is fun.

Teamwork makes the dream work. It's everyone's job to make sure that the younger ones are given the support that they need. It's a family affair. Good Luck everyone until the next time. Secure those relationships with your children and let them know that you have their back. Blessings and always best

Precious Unique