HOPE E. TREMBLAY
I have ALWAYS appreciated teachers, but I have even more respect for them as I stumble through this new world with my 9 and 11-year-olds.
First, let me say that my husband is a teacher. He teaches IT at a vocational high school and I appreciate what he does, but middle school age kids? They are tough.
My daughter has asked me several times over the years to homeschool her. It’s not that she doesn’t like school, she just doesn’t want to get up and get dressed and be ready by 7:45 each morning. I don’t blame her, but my response has always been a resounding “No Way!”
I have a ton of patience and I worked as a paraprofessional for a while and truly enjoyed it, but I know my limitations.
So this week we started with a schedule, made with my daughter and given the thumbs-up by my son. Day one went well. Day two, well, I was still working in the office and let’s just say teaching high school students and trying to teach your own 4th and 5th graders is a different story.
By Thursday, they were rebelling. They were restless and the chilly air and rain begged for a day of lounging. While the adults worked from home, the kids played chess and Monopoly. They dragged their blankets and pillows into the living room and watched movies. They helped set and clear the table and make dinner. They also fought, laughed, fought some more and shared more laughs.
We all needed a day off from trying to keep it “normal” when life is far from normal right now. And it was okay.
And then my daughter’s teacher sent her an email just to say hello. Not to give an assignment, not to suggest online resources, just to say she missed her students.
I am so grateful to my children’s teachers, principal and the entire staff at Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional Schools who so obviously care about their students.
That email was a simple check-in, but it’s energized us to tackle tomorrow and make these days together count.
To all you newly-dubbed “teachers” muddling through this, I see you. I feel you. I appreciate you. And remember, playing games and making dinner are life lessons, so don’t feel bad that you don’t have a regimented schedule, that you are not doing science experiments every day or giving yourself a crash course on Common Core math.
To all of you parents who do homeschool every day, you have my complete respect!
To all teachers of the world, THANK YOU for caring, inspiring, motivating and often herding our children.
