As school districts began to announce plans for virtual learning for the 2020–2021 school year, my phone began to blow up with comments, conversations, posts, and many calls from fellow moms discussing what that would look like for their families. I have friends with kids from high schoolers to first-time kindergartners who are stay-at-home moms and working moms. Some friends have children on IEPs or are receiving services from the schools that their children attend, each uniquely facing challenges with this new proposed plan.
As a family with two working parents and two children who have been attending public school, it became clear that the school plan being laid out in front of us with specific live learning blocks, Zoom meetings, and other various time-specific learning needs would require full-time parental support. After many of the challenges we faced in the spring doing virtual learning at home, I began researching our options. We have two children who were entering 1st and 4th grade and there had to be a more manageable and healthier alternative for our family.
Ultimately, homeschooling became the most logical and clear answer for our family
I've seen our children and our family flourish in this new experience
I won’t begin to say that every day is easy, and it definitely isn't an ideal situation for every family. But I'm thankful that families have options in this unique time our world is experiencing. Every parent I know is being faced with such a vast variety of needs, from working from home, job loss, kids at home full-time, new kindergartners, remote college, or whatever the 2020 winds have blown into your world. My hope is that all parents know they have options and that sometimes thinking outside the box can provide a better option for your family. It sure did for us — and for that, I'm grateful.
