To put it plainly, those initial months were tough. As a stay-at-home parent, I was used to managing the household, but my husband remained employed throughout, classified as “essential.” At that time, my son and daughter were in second grade and kindergarten, while my youngest was just two years old.
Having all three kids at home wasn’t the issue—they can be a handful, but they are also amazing, and the extra time together was one of the few silver linings during 2020. The real challenge lay in the uncertainty surrounding us, which kept my anxiety levels high. I was perpetually glued to my phone and TV, tracking the rising number of daily COVID-19 cases, tuning into special reports where the governor announced new restrictions almost daily, and anxiously waiting for emails from the school district about whether my kids would finish the school year. The lack of information about the virus was terrifying; at one point, I felt like we were living in a real-life version of “Outbreak,” hoping for someone to swoop in with a cure.
It’s safe to say I let us all fall into a rut for a while. Daily routines like baths and getting dressed became less important compared to binge-watching the news and playing Uno. I was just a mom trying to keep it together in front of my kids.
Fast forward to today—we’ve managed to claw our way out of that rut, vaccines are rolling out, and our school district has finally developed a plan. However, even with my original worries easing, the chaotic school schedules throughout the 2020-21 year have brought on a new wave of anxiety.
We started the school year with all-remote learning, then shifted to hybrid, only to return to remote again, and now we’re finally gearing up for full-time, in-person classes. It’s been a wild ride, and while I appreciate the hard work of our teachers and administrators, the inconsistency has left me questioning whether I’m doing enough for my children academically and otherwise.
Am I paying enough attention? Am I helping too much with their assignments? These questions lingered until I received an email that provided a much-needed boost. It was from my son’s art teacher, who shared a few encouraging words after seeing him in class on a hybrid day. It was brief but uplifting—a reminder that I might not be failing as a parent after all!
Of course, I have support from my husband and our extended family, but it’s those external affirmations that really lift your spirits. It’s comforting to know our kids are thriving, even amidst uncertainty. So, thank you, teacher, for the encouragement! We think you’re wonderful too!
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Summary:
The pandemic has brought challenges and uncertainties for families, especially with ever-changing school schedules. A simple, uplifting email from my son’s art teacher provided reassurance and encouragement, reminding me that we’re all navigating this together.