I'm no teacher

Where to start? We went into quarantine after the world shut down and they told me I have to be a teacher. At the end of the first day... I cried my eyes out. I then hired help. Since then things have gotten smoother. The teachers have gotten used to distance learning as have the kids and I. This week they told us they would cut the year short ending it on May 8th. I didn't know you could do that. We have been to school. So few days in retrospect. We were out earlier in the year because of hurricanes which drove the victims to our schools for shelter and closed down schools for a week. And now..

We just stop. 

I think it's a surrender.. Waiving the white flag. There are so many that don't have the time to teach the kids. They work to... They don't have money to hire help. So many kids have already been out of school. I do know that I will never again forgo a teacher's Christmas present. Those people deserve everything they make and then some. What a hard job. And why you would choose to home school?! Beyond my comprehension.

On the flip side, we have time. Time was becoming this elusive things that we never had enough of. Between school. And sports and clubs and church. Time was sparse. But now we have it. Forced time together. We've learned Rummy. We have famy movie nights. We take walks. We make fires. Lots of wonderful child chatter happens around a fire... When the TV is off and their little minds get to spinning. Lots of teaching mome ts about why fire burns and consumes and needs oxygen or why the marshmlow grows 5 times its size when it gets burned. We talk about stars and planets... About why it's night and where the sun goes. There are group hunts for the perfect roasting stick a d independence when one takes the flashlight out into the dark to search for one alone. There are games of swinging in the night and talks of future camp outs. Eventually Alex will tell me I'm the best fire builder ever! And each kid will practice their manners on their own as they agree with him and thank me for buying marshmallows and making a fire. Lots of time well spent is what this virus has provided this family. I miss shopping and eating out but we carry out a lot. So many meals at home I've lost count. But also lots of cookies baked together and chores being learned. Useful skills like how to clean the kitchen are taught or clothes washing 101. It's been a good thing for our family. I feel closer to my husband and not alone in this parenting thing. That's nice.

As much as I love and miss TJ Maxx, I've learned how little we actually need and I've enjoyed getting to know my family again.