Week 3 has been better in many ways. School was easier to complete, I was able to "talk" to friends while maintaining social distancing rules, and I got myself on a more "normal" schedule for our morning routine.
Schooling with Ruthie, my 1st grader, went a lot better since I assigned my older 4 girls specific times to play with/entertain my little boys. We tended to finish her school work by noon each day. Ruthie was also able to Zoom with her Spanish/math teacher one-on-one a couple of times throughout the week. Seeing her teacher and receiving individualized instruction was so good for her emotionally and academically. Ruthie was also able to Zoom with her class and both teachers for a little bit one morning. This is really the first time she has seen her friends and had an opportunity to talk to them. I think it was the highlight of the week for both of us!
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| Ruthie talking with her class |
A couple of mornings this week I met a friend in a parking lot to drink coffee and chat. We maintained our distance by both staying in our cars and talking through the windows. It was nice to have real face-to-face conversation versus through a screen. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for technology and the fact that we can see each other, but sometimes human contact is necessary for mental well-being.
My dryer died this week so that was a challenge I had to overcome. Thankfully it was towards the end of the week AND the weather cooperated so I could hang up the clothes to dry. I don't have a clothes line so I had to make do with what I have- patio furniture. The clean clothes weren't so clean once they were dry because of pollen and little children constantly touching them, but they were clean enough. We are back-logged on laundry because the clothes wash faster than they dry, and I didn't have anywhere else to hang wet clothes. We were only to wash one load in the morning and then another load before bed. The clothes were able to dry in between, and I brought in the patio chairs at night so the clothes could dry in the house since it was warmer than outside. Thankfully TJ was able to buy a dryer at Lowe's and it was delivered yesterday. We are playing catch up today but it is definitely going quicker than air drying.
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| Clothes drying outside |
The kids played outside a lot this week. This is nothing new or different, but I did allow them to play with the hose. They adapted the familiar "Dunking Booth" game and it was really funny. I enjoy seeing them play together, especially when they get along. I am thankful they have each other to play with as some of their neighborhood friends don't have siblings to play with. I know that has been difficult for those families.
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| Dunking Booth |
When school was in session, I woke up at 4:25am to go to the gym. After my workout, I would come home to shower and get myself ready for the day. The kids would get up and get their day going, as well. It worked well for us, and I thrive on routine. I decided I needed to get back on my normal schedule, albeit I didn't wake up QUITE as early. The gym I belong to does a live Zoom workout in the mornings at 6:30am. By joining those live workouts, I had accountability and support from friends and the trainer. It was a great feeling to feel "normal" and definitely contributed to a positive mindset for the day!
I feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment in teaching, and I definitely miss that. I think that is why getting up early and following a similar routine has helped me so much mentally. I have received countless texts, video messages, and emails from parents and students sharing how much they miss me, and it is difficult for everyone to be away from each other. I am planning a little surprise for the end of the week and hopefully my students' days will be brightened. My own children greatly miss their school friends and teachers. They have received postcards and letters in the mail from their teachers which put smiles on their faces.
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| My class Zoom call |
As we head into Spring Break and SDW4, I am looking forward to taking a break from school and the stress that comes with teaching my kids and ensuring all their work is done. I have a couple of projects for my own class I would like to do, and honestly planning and preparing for my class is a stress reliever for me. I LOVE teaching and lesson planning as it forces me to use my brain in different ways than I typically do.
Happy Monday, and do something outdoors this week!
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| Tobias playing in our backyard |
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