Coronavirus thoughts

I’ve learned so many different things since schools closed and we’ve had to deal with working from home and homeschooling our children.

Before the District moved to online school, our household already had a plan in place for our kids (Candi Odum Gauff thanks for the model we used to create our plan). We rotated between who would be utilizing the computer, when and which subjects etc. My kids even learned to write in cursive and you KNOW they don’t teach that in school anymore. It was a rough start but we made it work.

I wasn’t keen on working from home. It was only for 3 hours 3 days a week thanks to my husband working nights and having 2 weekdays off. But man, I didn’t like it. I had a plan for them but none for me. That changed pretty quickly by tweeking a few things.

1. I utilized my home office and set up a dedicated space for documents from work.

2. I created a schedule and included periodic breaks for sanity and checking in with my kids.

3. I prioritized and did things that required more resources at the office and saved simpler tasks for work from home. This was new for my job as well so their systems were overloaded and remoting in was chaotic.

4. I minimized distractions by making sure my kids understood even though I was home, I was working. I also did not turn on the TV or spend much time online.

5. I stayed connected with my boss and a couple of other coworkers. I made sure to check in so we stayed on the same page.

6. Lastly, I stayed mindful. Breathing exercises, prioritizing, organizing and taking needed breaks. I did everything in my power to ensure I was able to function each day.

While I’m still on the same schedule for the indefinite future, I’m no longer overwhelmed and I’ve found I get so much more done this way. I’m able to create realistic plans for cleaning, organizing, getting my yard together and actually execute them without feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. My new normal is working.

I’m also making brunch every weekend and my husband and kids LOVE that change.

I’ve noticed something huge during this transition. My child, who has struggled since reaching the 6th grade this school year, currently has 5 As and a C that is a few points away from a B.

I couldn’t understand why she was struggling to begin with.. She was my A student with 4s and 5s on all standardized tests since 3rd grade. She has been so different since starting middle school.

She was automatically put in advanced classes for this school year.

What I’ve learned over the 4th quarter is that she is clearly able to focus much better in an online setting and without disruption of her rhythm (switching classes between bells).

Not sure what to do with this knowledge but she is a totally different student and seems so much happier overall. Haven’t seen a dark moment since coronavirus hit.

I say all of that to say this….change is often a necessary evil. We must adapt and grow. I see a lot of people who don’t believe in the methods being used to minimize the spread of this disease however these changes are necessary for the safety of all of us. Just do your part.