Different is the new normal

Right now I am sitting at my kitchen counter with 2 boys who just woke up and a baby girl eating in her high chair. Seems like the charmed life at 8:15 am. Yep, 8:15 and they just woke up… or at least just came down stairs. But behind that 8:15 wake up is 8 years of conditioning them not to get out of bed until 7:15 when their “OK to Wake Clock” light turns green, many hours of teaching them to read and that when they wake up they can read in bed, and a long grueling night the night before with a baby who just wouldn’t sleep and thought that midnight to 3 am was the perfect time to play and eat a snack.

Before they got out of bed though, I was awake and in bed wondering, “Is today going to work the same as yesterday?” Likely answer, no. Yesterday we had a relatively uneventful morning of school and chores with minimal argument. Today it will likely look completely different because today is different. They are different, I am different, circumstances are different.

As so many of you are starting what some are calling home-for-now-schooling, I want to take the time to remind you that you are not alone, you are not crazy, every child and day is different and more than anything that YOU CAN DO THIS.

Your days are not going to look the same, there will probably be tears from one or both of you, this is going to be hard. But there is NO ONE more qualified to teach your child than you. Think back to teaching them to walk and talk. You did that. Potty training, you did that too. You have already been their biggest teacher. Academics are no different. You are qualified. You may not have a masters in math, you may not have gone to college but you are capable of understanding their needs, how they learn, and supporting them in this new journey of theirs also. Here are a few things I want you to think about and do.

1. Understand that this is a major life change for them as well. Their daily schedules have changed. They are feeling the fear and uncertainty we are experiencing as adults. They got ripped from friends and a trusted adult with little warning.
2. Their teachers are feeling it also. They don’t want the kids to fail. They wanted the time with their students to finish out the year. Most teachers are working on online assignments to keep the year going as best as they can with the resources they have. Many are also hoping that parents understand, this is new for them as well. If you have questions, you can still ask them. They are there to help your kids still.
3. Your child is unique and perfect the way they are. Let them learn and work at their level, at their pace, and in a way that makes sense to them. This is the hardest part of this. I have been homeschooling for 4 years now and I still have to remind myself of this.
4. Learn your child’s love language. This is really just a general task. I love these books, they are very eye opening and finding your child’s will change your relationship with them. You can find it on Amazon (linked above) or any major book retailer.
5. Your family’s security is more important than their school work. If you are working from home and getting paid, that is your focus. Continue providing for your family at this time. If you are finding it difficult to get schooling done on top of your job ask an older child to help a younger child (you would not believe how effective this is). Communicate with your child’s teacher, maybe they have some ideas or resources to help, or even just let me them know the work will get done but it may be a little late (many of them are working from home right now with kids at home also)
6. Learning doesn’t have to be boring worksheets and books. This is probably my favorite part of homeschooling. We learn organically so much of the time. We talk about science of space and math of trajectory while watching a space shuttle launch. We learn spelling by playing Bananagrams or Scrabble. We read stories and watch documentaries. We learn math by adding grocery totals. A little harder now with the advisement to stay home, but do it online or on an app.
7. Use this time to teach them life. Have older kids? Use this to teach them about savings, budgeting, taxes, insurance, basic car repair. If you don’t know how to do this use it as a bonding time. Learn together, they won’t forget it. Younger kids? Teach them how to cook, clean, care for themselves.
8. Teach them art. Art is intimidating to some. Art isn’t about a beautiful product. It is about a beautiful process. Art is messy, it is fluid and changes constantly, and what you thought it maybe, may not work in the end. But you created something. Teach them to create. With yarn knitting and crocheting, with fabric sewing, with paint and canvas or paper, with pencil, with food. This is all art. Emotions will be expelled whether they think they are or not. It may just feel like fun to them and that is okay.
9. It is okay if it doesn’t all get done. Some days, all you may get done is your work. Some days you won’t get the rooms cleaned or the dishes done. Some days you will get math done but not science. Some days you just throw your hands up and go outside and enjoy the sunshine. All of these are normal. All of these are needed. All of these are learning days. Give yourself a break.

If you really, really feel the need to continue a more formal approach besides what your child’s teacher is sending home, go to Our Current Curriculum. This is what we use for most of the year. I will also be adding some supplemental things you can use, worksheets you can print, etc at the bottom as I find them and I will do my best to advise if they are K-5, Middle, or High school level. There is a community to support you, if you are looking for more help just comment below and ask!

I am rooting for you. Hopefully all our kids will go back to normalcy in the fall. In the meantime just enjoy your family, enjoy the extra minutes with them. Before you know it they will be out on their own and hopefully remembering the time they got to have some extra time in their safe space, at home with Mom and Dad.

I am not paid for you to use any of these links. They are all just products I use in our daily life. I am not an affiliate, influencer, or the like.