Dear Mama, We Made It
Hi friends, it's me, Jillian. I know it's been awhile and I've missed pouring out the thoughts of my soul with you. I've been gone because quarantine and parenting aren't exactly the easiest combination. It's especially difficult when thrown the added task of homeschooling. If this was you too, I'm applauding you! We can now proudly say, we did it!
This season of stay at home orders and the entire world coming to a drastic halt have really thrown all of us off. We've been all over the place with our emotions, our routines, our work lives, and even in our relationships with one another.
Closing the first chapter of Covid
As homeschooling has just come to an end, Ive been reminiscing on the past few months. As a mom, I've been pushed to my limits. Let's face it, when kids are stuck in the house together for an extended period of time, with no place to get any time of seclusion, fighting is bound to happen.
Nonetheless, we woke up every morning and made our kids breakfast. We got ourselves ready and our kids ready. Even if you chose to have you and your kids just put on fresh pajamas, that counts! We got their computers ready, their papers and pencils ready, and set reminders for their scheduled conferences.
Our children were more often than not, fighting us to begin the school day. They fought us to hop on their conferences and focus on their school work. Through the fight, we made it happen, and so did they! As the thoughtful parents we are, we created space for dance breaks, outdoor time, new areas for school work, and of course supplied plenty of snacks. Though many times we had to relearn things or learn their unique school system of how to solve problems, we were the ones who took the time to be there for our children.
This is a huge accomplishment, and you should be proud.
Finding the humor
Just like moments in parenting when you've noticed your child carve their name into the door while practicing to spell, or the moment your child smeared a whole tube of hot pink lipstick into the white carpet, we are given opportunities for laughter. Quarantine is just that, the gift of laughter
Now that the first season of quarantining is over, it's time to reflect on the past few months and smile. All those moments we wanted to cry or scream, or the moments we actually did, can now be our reason to laugh.
I remember the time my daughter dropped to the floor whining "school is even worser at home than at school". I had to manage keeping it together without completely losing it with her. Now, I can laugh at how ridiculous the whole situation was, and she can laugh with me! We are handed these perfect little moments to enjoy and find humor in; moments that are no longer stressful. What a beautiful gift that is to be given.
If homeschooling your kids gave you a headache or made your kids say something out of their character, now is the time to laugh at the insanity. Now is the time to let it go and be grateful we don't have to do that anymore.
Beginning a new chapter
While the coronavirus is yet to end with a possibility of returning to homeschooling again next school year, we must celebrate getting through this uncharted territory! We must celebrate that despite being thrown something insanely challenging, we made it!
Our kids made it through several months of homeschooling. They made it because we chose to put them first. Some of you even chose to put your children first, even though you had a full time job on top of their schooling.
No matter where this virus takes us in the future, or if another pandemic causes everything to fall apart once again, at least we can say we know how to handle it now. We know what it takes and we know what we're getting into. For that, I am grateful.
If you made it through homeschooling without completely losing your mind, be proud; you made it!
