“You are the principal of your own school. Your kids are fantastic and you are doing a great job. Just do what you can do and everything else will sort itself out.” – a wise teacher
Spring break ends this weekend. Heavy sigh.
It’s been a welcome reprieve from scurrying to Google Meet with a dozen teachers, scrambling around to set up and troubleshoot daily assignments sent in emails and posted in various nooks and crannies of Google Classroom, and wracking my brain to remember the many signins and passwords for Lexia, Zearn, Brainpop, Starfall, Typingclub.com, Quavermusic, and more. And it’s given me time to think and strategize about what’s best for my kids and for me.
When I stop pushing it to the back of my mind, I feel guilty all the time. Guilty when I miss virtual meetings and school “deadlines”, guilty that I don’t have the energy to spend more quality time with my children, guilty that I am stuggling to meet the individual emotional needs of each of them, guilty that I am not doing enough ___________________ [fill in the blank], guilty when I yell or become impatient. I’m exhausted because like so many other parents forced to add nonstop childcare and home schooling to their already full plate, I’ve stolen time for myself from sleep.
If one more person reminds me of how important routine is I think I will scream (of course, I’ll mute my microphone and video first). The kids are fine – they eat, sleep and play each day. They have clean clothes and (relatively) clean house to spend most of their time each day. We read togther each day. They spend time outside each day. I make sure there are smiles, hugs and a bit of laughter each day. Everyone is healthy. And especially for that, we are grateful.
So, I have to set priorities and let some things go. I am holding tightly to the words of one of my children’s teachers: “You are the principal of your own school. Your kids are fantastic and you are doing a great job. Just do what you can do and everything else will sort itself out.”
For the last six weeks of school that’s going to be my mantra.
Happy Easter to all who celebrate!
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And I know other parents are struggling too. This Twitter thread speaks to me for I have TWO Kindergarteners ….