Distance. Learning. It’s the educational environment/concept where class is held via satellite. Whooooa. Did any of us see this coming before March 13, 2020? He** NO! And to be honest, once we delved into it at the end of last school year, I don’t think there was damn near one of us that wanted to see it continue. In fairness, teachers and districts did what they could to activate the ‘crisis-mode schooling’ concept and I’m tremendously thankful to them for taking that bull by the horns. It was a predicament that everyone barely survived. Tough going, without a doubt but we all did the best we could in a time when no one could possibly have been prepared for a worldwide health crisis.

Fall 2020

Enter August 19, 2020 (1.5 weeks ago). Summer break had ended for my kids and a new year was up to the plate. New environment. New devices. New normal. New. New. New. The kids were ready to try it out and I had enough faith in the school to know that they were going to do their darned best to make magic happen. That’s not to say, though, that I expected to get by without a gigantic learning curve, maybe some frazzled nerves and sprinkles of frustration. I was just hoping that it wouldn’t be an all-out disaster. Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy and relieved to announce that all systems are GO. We survived and the kids LOVE distance learning ::the crowd goes wild (and the mom grabs a spiked seltzer)!!

Surviving Is Possible

We honestly may have surprised ourselves in discovering that this is do-able. It’s not exactly a walk in the park but why not just give it the best shot we can with the most positive outlook possible? Distance Learning might not be everyone’s cup of tea but truthfully, neither is in-class learning. The realization that its OK to be unsettled about this and quite frankly, to be scared sh**less, is acceptable. What we get the opportunity to discover through it all is the truth about our likes/dislikes and our needs. We’re all seeing life (and the world) through a completely different lens now. As I analyzed the kids’ progress with this life change, I came to realize a few things.

Kids really are learning. Learning to be resilient, in fact. Things aren’t exactly what they’re used to (sports, friends, birthday parties) but they’re finding ways to adjust and will be more insightful for it, in the long run.

They’re adapting. Change is a most hated concept for most adults but not always so, for kids. While going to school via computer may sound incredibly foreign to us, in truth, it’s probably not so weird to them. These children were born into a world that already ran on technology (computers, smart phones, educational apps, etc.) and they will never know a day of their lives without its existence. Whether it’s today, next year, or 3 years from now–they’ll be using computers for school meetings, class lessons, etc. anyway. This is vastly different from most of us who watched technology blossom. We penned letters, threw spitwads & tore out pieces of paper with “circle yes or no” on it. Yes, we’re pretty old.

Discovering what it means to care for others. Through this, they are learning to look out for each other and for strangers, too. This situation is bigger than any of us alone but there is strength (and hopefully success) in numbers. Can one person make a difference? Of course! As one becomes many, they are learning that as much as this is about protecting their own health, it is also about being concerned for and looking out for those around them. It’s a good life lesson.

The Simple Stuff

Need a tip or two to kickstart your fall semester? For starters, school supplies! I’m talking about only the most practical and necessary items. Nothing fluffy, nothing extravagant; just the normal stuff.

  • 1 Box #10 Pencils or mechanical pencils, erasers, ballpoint pens, highlighters
  • 24 pack of crayons, 10 pack markers, 1 pack color pencils, 2 boxes of spiked seltzer
  • 1 non-fancy pencil sharpener (keeps the motor skills in order)
  • 1 bottle of all purpose white glue, 1 bottle of Tito’s Vodka, 1 bottle of Centenario Reposado Tequila
  • Fruit snacks, cookies, orange juice, cranberry juice, 3 limes, granola bars, margarita mix, Oreo cookies
  • Filler paper, 4 spiral notebooks, 4 composition notebooks
  • 1 binder

Remember to keep things organized. Books should be easily accessible and in a central location; pencils, pens, erasers stationed very close by their work station – yes, work station. I know, right? What a pain! But young minds are still learning the ways of the world around them and while we all like to be comfortable, a dedicated area for school allows them to understand that it is time to shift into ‘learning mode’ and also encourages them to stay organized. Please also be sure to turn on the ice maker before going to bed as well as place a spiked seltzer in the fridge. There’s no telling what each new day holds so you’d best be prepared – all of you, not just the kids.

Start the new day fresh. A school outfit for them and a pair of day pajamas for you. If you’re working from home, find the nicest & most appropriate top for any impromptu video conference meetings. Pants are optional. Just don’t get up while the camera is on and reveal the existence of that rule.

Don’t Look Back

You’ve got this. We’ve all got this. A challenging time it may be, for a plethora of reasons but keep moving along. What’s the best way to eat an elephant? One bite at a time. No, don’t take me literally — I don’t need the wildlife police coming after me. You know what I mean, though. We can’t go back to what was, so to maintain your sanity, don’t look back. Find the good things about this time right in front of you. I’m a pessimist but even I’ve found some gems hidden among the prickly thorns.

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