In my corner of the globe, this is our first week back to school.
Our school district has wholeheartedly embraced the “new normal” of online learning, something I applaud them for. I work as an instructional aid for the special education department and know the struggles and limitations our population has to contend with. I have been studiously watching training videos, and participating in meetings and live chats preparing myself for this new frontier.
Me last week
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Stupidly I believed that with enough preparation and knowledge this would be… well, if not easy at least manageable. I have teenagers and felt certain they could handle their online schooling with little to no input from me. After all they are much more proficient with technology than I am.
My kids Monday morning:
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The first day of school consisted of constant interruptions. My son’s, “My computer froze.” resulted in a thirty-minute phone call and then a trip to his school to exchange his laptop. My daughter’s, “I don’t have the right link for this class.” meant a ten-minute frantic search of all communication platforms looking for the hidden link that would connect her to her fellow classmates. The ever present, “What am I supposed to do if…?” created havoc amongst my carefully curated schedule.
When the final Zoom class was done, we slammed our laptops shut, the sound satisfyingly final. Exhausted, the kids and I made our way from our separate work areas and collectively collapsed on the couch.
We sat in silence each trying to take in the level of energy and brain power we had to expend to get through just one day of this. Eventually my daughter turned towards me and asked, “What’s for dinner?”
I guess I did have a little energy left!
🙂
Rebecca Lamprey 