School's Out

This was not how the school year was supposed to end.  The kids were supposed to finish school in their classrooms with their friends.  Briggs was supposed to have his field trip and his spring program.  Adelie was supposed to do the 'Children Around the World' presentation and enjoy field day.  Staley was supposed to perform the 'We Love America Program' and participate in the 3rd and 4th grade track meet.  There were supposed to be fun end of the year activities.  The kids were supposed to hug their teachers, say good-bye to their friends, and anticipate summer with all it's activities and freedom.  Instead the school year ended with a thud as the kids wrapped up 2 months of e-learning activities with an anti-climatic social distancing return to school to drop off their chromebooks and pick up their classroom supplies.  A quick good-bye to their teachers and my kids are officially heading into Kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 4th grade.

Briggs worked hard with his e-learning activities.  He's flourished with all the extra practice at home while his sisters did their school work.  He now knows all his letters and numbers, and is working hard on his reading skills.  I picked up his Kindergarten readiness packet at the school today and he is so excited to start on his summer "kindergarten work."

The highlight of Briggs's e-learning activities were his weekly Zoom meetings with his teacher and his class.  He also loved when Ms. Stork would send videos of herself reading stories to the class or introducing a new letter of the day or doing a science experiment.

 
Briggs had Ms. Stork as his pre-school teacher these past 2 years.  He has grown and learned so much, both socially and academically.  My little guy is ready for Kindergarten!  I wish he could have ended his pre-school career with a little more fanfare, but it was a wonderful journey nonetheless.

For my social little gal who is motivated by being surrounded by others, the e-learning journey was a little tougher for Adelie.  She loved Flipgrid, a daily question that she could answer via video and, in turn, could watch the videos of her classmates.  Watching her teacher do read aloud stories and writing in her writing journal were other daily favorites.  Completing her worksheets was a little more of a struggle, and her excitement about her summer packet of work from the school does not match her brother's.

Ms. Malcom was such a great fit as Adelie's teacher this year.  She was young and fun and sweet and energetic.  Adelie loved her!

 
Just like school in general, Staley didn't struggle with e-learning. She required very little help and was responsible about getting all her work done.  Her highlights of e-learning were when she'd get to play the math game, Prodigy, and when she would "chat" with her friends on Google hangouts after she had finished her work for the day.

Staley has liked all her teachers, but she told me that Mrs. Hitchins was the nicest teacher that she has had.

The walk home from the school today was bittersweet.  I experienced that small taste of normalcy watching my girls in their backpacks make their way home from school for the last time this school year while knowing that what we've experienced this year is anything but normal.

This was not how the school year was supposed to end.  It all feels incomplete.  But no matter how it feels, school is over and summer is here.  And just as we attempted to embrace the end of the school year the best we could, we will enter our summer with the same goal in mind.

Quarantine Perk

Yesterday I was able to fold laundry while attending church in my pajamas.

#couchchurch
#sermonsandsocks

Love

I feel like my kids have always gotten along well.  They enjoy being together and they play well together and they help each other out.  This has been a true blessing over these past few months as my kids have had to become the sole playmates for each other.  And although we've definitely had our fair share of tattling and arguing and unkindness and ugly sibling moments, there have also been so many moments of fun and laughter and love.  I love catching my kids in these moments and capturing the sweet moments that they share.

Adelie doing "story time" for Briggs

Staley helping Adelie learn to roller skate

Staley helping Briggs cross the creek on our hike

All 3 kids working together on a series of 'Elephant and Piggie' plays

(Staley was Elephant, Adelie was Piggie, and Briggs was the whale and the snake)

Adelie washing Briggs's feet in the foot bath

Staley reading to Briggs

Adelie and Briggs practicing and performing a singing and dancing show

Adelie and Briggs reading together

This quarantine has been a true time of togetherness for our family.  With nowhere to go and no one to be with, we just have each other.  I am so grateful that each other is all we really need.

Coronovirus Interviews

During this unprecedented time in life, it's nice to be able to step back and view our current situation through the eyes of my kids.  I interviewed each of them separately (so their answers wouldn't influence the others).

What is the coronavirus?

Staley:  "BAD!  It's a sickness, a virus."

Adelie:  "A sickness."

Briggs:  "Bad."

How did the coronavirus start?

Staley:  "In China."

Adelie:  "I think from a bat, maybe."

Briggs:  "Germs."

How can we get rid of the coronavirus?

Staley:  "Create a vaccine or something."

Adelie:  "Make a shot."

Briggs:  "A hot day."

Who is the president?

Staley:  "Donald Trump"

Adelie:  "Donald Trump"

Briggs:  "I don't know.  God?"

How long have we been staying at home?

Staley:  "I don't know.  About 2 months, I think."

Adelie:  "Maybe 30 days."

Briggs:  "Maybe 15 days."

Did you miss going to school?

Staley:  "Kind of yes and kind of no.  I missed seeing my friends but I liked being home all the time."

Adelie:  "Yes.  I missed my friends and my teacher."

Briggs:  "Yes.  I missed seeing my friends and my teacher."

Was Mommy a good teacher?

Staley:  "You didn't really need to help me so I don't really know."  

Adelie:  "Yeah."

Briggs:  "Yeah."

When this is over, who is the first person you want to hug again?

Staley:  "Grammie and Grandpa."

Adelie:  "Grammie or Uma"

Briggs:  "Probably Dava and Grace."

When this is over, where is the first place you want to go again?

Staley:  "The pool"

Adelie:  "Disney World"

Briggs:  "Disney World"

What has been the best thing about staying at home?

Staley:  "I like that Daddy is home all the time and going hiking."

Adelie:  "We get family time and school is shorter and we can sleep in."

Briggs:  "It's fun.  I like playing and doing school work."

I love seeing this experience through the eyes of my kids.  And I agree with them.  I like having Zach home all the time and I love our family time and I enjoy going hiking.  I am looking forward to hugging loved ones and going to Disney World.  And although I know who our president is, I really wish our president was God!

Mother's Day

As a mom, Mother's Day is a day that I enjoy.  Mother's Day is a day to sleep in.  Mother's Day is a day to say "ask your dad."  Mother's Day is a day to relish the homemade gifts and cards from my kids.  Mother's Day is a day to relax and give myself a break from household chores.  And Mother's Day is a day to express gratitude for the mothers in my life and the little ones who gave me my most cherished title.

I am so grateful for Zach's mom.  How lucky was I to join into a family so full of love!  Zach's mom is generous and thoughtful and fun.  She is always willing to help out with whatever we need.  Watching the kids, running an errand, making a meal...if there is something we need, she never hesitates.  She is always present in our lives and freely gives of her time and her love.  My kids know that Uma will always come to their games or their plays or their programs.  They know she will take them on special birthday outings and have them over for sleepovers.  Zach's mom rarely shows up empty handed when we see her.  It might be homemade jam or a bag of oranges.  It might be a new pair of flip flops or a shirt for the kids.  It might be cookies or treats.  She is always thinking of us, spoiling us, and making us feel special.  I am so thankful for her and am so thankful that I get to be a part of her family.

I am so very thankful for my mom.  What a blessing she is!  She is my role model.  She is my sounding board.  She is my closest friend.  Rarely a day goes by that I don't talk to my mom.  Rarely a decision is made that I haven't discussed with my mom.  And rarely do I watch my mom and not marvel at her energy.  Her positivity.  Her faith.  My mom is the most self-less and giving person I know, and we are so blessed that she showers her gifts of time, energy, love, and prayers on me and my family.  When I grow up, I hope I am just like my mom.  And someday, when my kids are grown, I hope they think of me with even half the admiration that I have for my mom.

I am so thankful for these three that have given me the title of mom.  I have learned so much about myself through the lives of these little ones.  I have learned that I can love more fiercely than I ever thought possible.  I have learned that I am not as patient as I wish I was.  I have learned that I can be more proud of someone else's accomplishments than I am of my own.  I have learned that the mere thought of something happening to one of my kids can bring me to tears.  I have learned that the joy I feel in watching simple moments of love between my kids far surpasses anything that I've experienced before.  I have learned that there is nothing I'd rather do than be present with my kids.  I have learned that there is nothing I'd rather be than a mom to these three.

Happy (belated) Mother's Day!

I am blessed!!

Best Friends

Staley:  "My best friends are still my cousins and Lilian and Josie.  But since we don't really get to see anyone anymore, sometimes I feel like my best friends are Hermione and Jo March."

Who needs friends when you've got books??

Quarantine Style

We are not a fashion conscious family.  The kids generally choose their own clothes and dress for their own comfort.  My comfortable sweatshirts and yoga pants have always gotten their fair share of use.  Zach's penchant for running t-shirts and blue and orange clothing strongly influenced his daily clothing choices.  Prior to quarantine, however, we made an effort.  I would attempt to direct some of my children's daily clothing choices.  I'd strongly encourage wearing more than a 3 shirt rotation.  I'd assist in determining whether or not a shirt actually matched the pants it was being paired with.  I'd insist on hair being brushed on a daily basis.  I tried to ensure that outgrown clothing or pants with holes or shirts with stains were removed from daily use.  I'd allow the occasional pajama day, but pajamas past noon was not the norm.  I'd occasionally curl or straighten my hair.  Zach would wear nicer clothes for work.  With quarantine, however, the style choices made by my family don't really matter as we are not really going anywhere or being seen by anyone.  Zach goes to work in shorts and a t-shirt.  The kids are not generally dressed before noon.  Staley has worn her 3 favorite athletic t-shirts on a near constant rotation.  Adelie will go all day (or two) without brushing her hair. I don't generally do anything to my hair, put on any make-up, or wear anything that doesn't have an elastic waist.  And Briggs?  Well, when you just let your 5 year old make all their own fashion choices, the results can be a bit amusing.

Briggs wanted to get "dressed up" for church on Sunday.  So he paired his athletic shorts with his favorite Halloween shirt and a clip on tie.

There is something a little freeing about our quarantine style.  Although Staley seems to have outgrown most of her pants and pajamas overnight, she is still wearing them all because...why not?  Although I usually try to dissuade Briggs from "matching" his pants with the exact same color of shirt, I don't anymore because...why not?  Although my kids used to get dressed every morning before school, now they attend school everyday in their pajamas because...why not?  Quarantine style saves us time.  It saves some laundry.  It saves some arguments.  When it comes to quarantine style, there is never the question of "Can I wear this?"  Because the answer is always...

"Why not?"

Sure

As a parent, there are many times throughout the day that I find myself saying "no" to things.  Sometimes it's to keep my children safe.  Sometimes it's to keep my children healthy.  But sometimes it's just to avoid a big mess.  Sometimes it's because there is just not enough time.  Sometimes it's because the effort or investment seems too great.  During a quarantine that has now stretched out past 50 days, there is ample time to clean up the messes and put in the effort and try new things. There is much more opportunity to say "sure."  And sometimes the "sure" in a day makes the best quarantine memories.

Can we take a walk in the rain?  Sure.

Can we get out the face paints?

Sure.

Can we eat lunch in our box?  Sure.

Can we ride our bikes through the flooded lower lake paths?

Sure.

And then can we play in the flooded fields?  Sure.

Can we stay up past bedtime to keep playing games or reading books or watching a movie?  Sure.

Can we set up the tent in the backyard?

And have s'mores?

And then sleep in the tent all night?  (Or at least until 4:30 in the morning when everyone woke up cold and wanted to finish sleeping inside.)

Sure.

Can I make meals and bake things and use the oven by myself?  Sure.

Can we take family bike rides around town?  Sure.

And will you get out the bike you haven't ridden in 12 years so you can keep up with us?  Sure.

Can you help us make a life size Chutes and Ladders game in the driveway?  Sure.

Can you learn how to French braid my hair?  Sure.

Can we have ice cream before dinner?  Sure.

Can we find new places to hike and explore new trails and spend hours in the woods?  Sure.

There are plenty of things we are missing during this quarantine.  We are missing school activities and spending time with friends and hugging grandparents and going on trips and visiting the library and playing at playgrounds and eating at restaurants.  But there is now more time for trying new things and making big messes and just being together.  There are more opportunities to say "sure."  And those "sure" moments are helping us make some wonderful quarantine memories.

Sad

When you have spent over a month in quarantine and are staring down another confirmed month with no return to normalcy in sight, there are bound to be low points.  For the most part, we have made the best of this situation.  We've enjoyed all the family time.  We've embraced the empty calendar.  We've been productive with the extra time we've had.  We've taken advantage of the beginning of spring weather.  We've stayed on top of school work, been intentional about connecting with others, found time for life skills training (money, time, cooking, letter writing, more household chores), and made some really fun memories along the way.  At this point, I can still say we've truly been enjoying our quarantine time.

That enjoyment, however, doesn't negate the sadness.  My biggest low came about two weeks ago.  The weather had been poor.  We'd spent a few days indoors.  Zach's birthday was coming up and I had no gifts and no good ideas.  It snowed.  And then we found out that school was indeed cancelled for the remainder of the year.  Although I knew this was likely to happen, the finality of it hit me harder than I thought it might.  No 'We Love America' program, no track meet, no talent show, no awards ceremony.  No good-byes with teachers, no fun activities with friends, no definite line between school ending and summer beginning.  That realization, experienced on a gray, gloomy, SNOWY April day, was enough to push the sadness of the situation to the forefront.  I felt sad for the state of our country.  I felt sad for the things my kids were missing.  I felt sad for those bigger moments that others were missing.  I felt sad for the sick.  Sad for the lonely.  Sad for the unemployed.  Sad for the kids who need school as a place to feel safe, loved, and supported.  Sad for the teachers. Sad for the seniors.  Sad for the thwarted weddings, funerals, proms, sports seasons.  Sad for the things already missed and the future things already cancelled.  Sad for the physical void between us and those we love.  Sad about the situation that we have no control over.  Just sad.

That sadness has not permeated my every day.  It came in a wave on that snowy April day a few weeks ago.  It sneaks in at other times.  Sadness creeps in when my kids ask about trips or vacations that might not happen.  When I get yet another e-mail about a cancelled summer event or activity.  When the girls play that they've worked so hard on gets indefinitely postponed.  When my itch to travel leaves me wondering when that might even be a possibility again.  When I am left to speculate about how long this could go on and what our new normal might look like.  There are positives that are coming out of this time.  Usually I can focus on those.  But sometimes, just sometimes, I just feel sad.