Learning Curve
Just when you think you have everything figured out, reality has a way of tossing a curve-ball in your direction.
Last Monday, we found that Edith had been falling behind in school by neglecting some of her school work and, in some cases, not doing the work at all. This was quite the revelation for us. Kris and I honestly thought she had her poop in a group. But, even the brightest kiddo can fall behind with a lack of accountability.
Do I think I failed her? I do. As the flexible parent (a.k.a. the one who can’t work) I should have had a better understanding of her school work and schedule. But with a million things to worry about, things became amiss and she fell behind.
That evening, there were a lot of tears, from both the tween and the mom. But, out of it we had a nice long chat and created a handy daily schedule. I now know everything that she should be doing and I’ve fully have embraced my new job title as “Mum: Nag-Monster!” Luckily, she doesn’t seem to mind too much, and I think she’ll finish the year okay.
And then there is Anton. If I thought I was a bad middle-school teacher, my abilities as a preschool teacher are even worse. It's been over a month since we've participated in his preschool-zoom meetings and I'm lucky if I can get him to sit 10 minutes and do a learning activity with me. I know this autumn will bring a lot of changes to the education system, but I really, really (really) hope that doesn't mean I will be a Kindergarten teacher this fall.
The silver lining, and the part that makes me fell slightly less guilty about my lassiz-faire style of parenting, is that both Edith and Anton have really become a lot closer in quarantine. They are constantly in some sort of imaginary universe together, inventing contraptions with backyards objects and taking time to observe the world as they go. They’ve learned a lot about how to get along AND how to give each other space. And while I completely understand that all of this will change as they get older, I have to believe that this connection and these great memories will last a lifetime.
Our week ended with a nice trip to the country to visit my parents for a belated Mother’s Day and for some minor car repair. There is nothing quite like fantastic weather and fresh country air. You almost forget you’re living through a pandemic.
Today, we start a new normal as Minnesota’s “Stay-at-Home” order is lifted and I’m able to return to work. What will the coming weeks bring? Other than a new set of hurdles, one really can’t say. It’ll be an adventure, regardless.
