Parenting in COVID times

If parenting was a challenge before COVID, now it is about 100% more confusing.  While the parenting "rules" were vague before, they are really blurry and kind of non-existent now. Do my kids go back to school? Do my kids play sports? Do my kids hang out with friends? Do my kids stay home? But it is outside... But everyone else is doing it... But I used to do that... But I normally would have sent him to school... But it makes no sense to me... But why not? But that is not what the rules say... I thought I was allowed. I thought I could. I thought that was ok now. We're all kind of winging it...

Hope you all stay safe... and sane ;)

Parenting: wet football game style

First day of school in 2020.... the Alexander edition

This photo captures the ever-elusive and picture-hating grade 11 student in front of his habitat, and only standing still for a matter of seconds before jumping on his bike to head to school with his friend. Yes, Alexander started his final year of high school today. Wow- I can still remember his first day of kindergarten: since he is born in November, he should have been held back a year but our stubborn and fearless eldest son insisted on going to school at the same time as his friends. Andreas and I left it to the professionals who agreed that he was ready to go to school early**. So, off he went to his first day of kindergarten... We got there early so Alexander ended up being first in line, only to be joined by a boy who was (no joke) a good foot taller than him. I almost cried, thinking that we made the biggest mistake by letting our younger-than-the-rest-of-the-class son go to kindergarten early. Thankfully, when the other kids started arriving, we realized that boy was a good foot taller than almost everyone 😉 and, since he remains one of Alexander's best friends, I can say that he still sticks out in the crowd 😉 

Wishing Alexander and the rest of the class of 2021 a very happy COVID-19 graduating year... 

**In Quebec, the cutoff for each school year is September 30, so all children born after that date start school in the following year. Since Alexander is born in November 2004, he should have started school with the kids born in 2005 instead. Confusing, I know.

First day of school in 2020.... the me edition

 Here we go..... 😉

Yes, I did some online teaching when we shut down in March but, now, it is the real thing. All undergraduate classes are online for this semester but I still have to go in to work with my Master's and PhD students face to face. Honestly, as much as I like the challenge and variation of online teaching, I find it hard to connect with the students, especially when I have a large class and have to scroll page by page to see what is going on. I enjoy the eye to eye contact and the spontaneous communication/discussion. Now, it feels much more "organized" to ask a question (ie: clicking on the raise hand icon/using chat or trying to find who just said something), which can be a bit intimidating for the students. Also, they are not obliged to put their video on so, sometimes, teaching to a bunch of black boxes feels like talking to my kids when they are watching Youtube videos on their phone (ie: no interaction 😉). Plus, I had to change all my evaluation methods to suit online delivery... hope it all works out!

Anyway, we are back and I am looking forward to some sort of routine. I missed my job and those I work with. Keeping fingers crossed that my internet remains somewhat stable and I don't provide any entertaining background adventures for my students 😉

xox

First day of school in 2020... the Nicklas version

Today was Nicka's first day of grade 8. The school staggered all their entries by grade level so it was only his year that went back this morning. I know that I was only able to take 2 pictures of him but, considering that I usually get a hand in the camera, this is pretty good (even though he clearly looks unimpressed in the second picture 😉). 

There are many of his friends that he hasn't seen since March so, despite the cool attitude, I think he was looking forward to seeing them again. 

Again, after the parental "this is school in 2020" speech, he walked off to find his new bubble-class.... first high school start done... one more to go!

Happy Tuesday to you all xox

What is up with all the pictures? 

First day of school in 2020... the Oliver edition

Today was Oliver's first day of school. Grade 5... wow! Nicka starts tomorrow and Alexander goes back by the end of the week. Honestly, I am still caught off guard with this whole return to school. Everything seems rushed... heck, I usually have everything labelled and organized a few days before their return (what can I say? I am a school supply geek). I found myself rushing last night to put Oliver's name on all his school supplies. No new shoes. A kind of wrinkly t-shirt. Just remembered to get him to wash his hair last night. It is, however, not only me being unorganized... it is the whole situation. Don't get me wrong... I am not blaming his school or teachers. Far from it... they get extra kudos from me. By rushed, I mean that we just literally went from shut everything down-pandemic-stay home-self isolate-how many people died today-how many people caught coronavirus today-daily press meetings to a sudden opening of everything. It seems rushed. Everything seems too rushed. This summer just sped by without any sort of transition or easing in process. Maybe it is just me? Not too sure. Before leaving home this morning, he chose his mask for the day (with a back up carefully packed) and I reminded him about the extra hand sanitizer in his bag. Andreas reminded him about keeping distance and to wash his hands regularly. Welcome to 2020.

Anyway, was Oliver happy to go back? His words say no but his face upon seeing his friends this morning said otherwise. 

Where did the summer go?

All of a sudden, I am back at work. What the heck happened to summer? Summer, I had such hopes for you! I thought that you would bring something positive to 2020. I thought that you would be there for me.... What happened? Last night, I found myself watching geese flying... and probably in the wrong direction. I am getting emails from the boys' schools. The pick up date for school supplies is next week. I am preparing my online courses for fall 2020. Where are you going, summer? I still need you!

My week plans have now been modified to include: more sitting in the sun, putting a bottle of rosé on ice and enjoying more evening walks. I need to absorb as much vitamin D as I can, while I can.

Summer, so far your visit has been pretty quick. Think you can drag it out a while longer? Much appreciated xox

Another 10 random facts

1) I am coming to terms with being the kids' social life scheduler... even during pandemic times, their agendas are more full than mine ;)

2) One more thing to include in "strange things to happen in 2020": our garden is producing the smallest tomatoes but the largest zucchini that I have ever seen.

3) Our neighbourhood is being overrun by crabgrass. Another plague...

4) I ordered the brightest orange slides ever and I love them.

5) I have come to the conclusion that I will make a good retired person.

6) I honestly gave up on mascara.

7) I have a re-occurring dream where I have to run to catch the train, despite the fact that I haven't been on a train since March 12... the day I bought a month pass and the day before the universities shut down #themostexpensivetriphome

8) Our neighbourhood is also overrun by Japanese Beetles. Another plague...

9) Now that I have to look up at 2 out of my 3 sons, it amazes me that I actually gave birth to them.

10) I am hoping that my favourite coffee shop downtown will still be there when I have to go back into work again.