1. As of midnight tonight we will have officially survived the first full week of social distancing. It’s been a learning experience for all of us.
2. Google Classroom ROCKS. For real, it’s an obsessive organizer’s dream.
3. Overseeing online curriculum for two teens is a lot like leading committee meetings. Baked goods make everything better.
4. Mastering the casual drift-by is key to confirming on task behavior.
5. But staying out of it encourages independence so that, too.
6. Schooling in PJs is underrated.
7. Starting school by 10am is also underrated.
8. 9:30am is the perfect wake time – late enough that they feel like they’re sleeping in, early enough that they haven’t wasted half the day.
9. Coffee is still a crucial part of my morning.
10. Nothing says hey, let’s talk about your classes for the day like a steamy caffeine fix.
11. Occasionally there’s food but there’s always coffee.
12. I got a little panicky when the virus news began escalating and I realized I only have two extra creamers in the house.
13. The dogs are a bit flummoxed by the 24/7 presence of children.
14. Can’t say I blame them.
15. Phoebe’s been extra edgy and I honestly don’t know what we’ll do if she runs out of CBD drops during isolation.
16. That’s a kind of bad on par with running out of creamer.
17. This is A LOT of days in a row to cook dinner.
18. I’m afraid to think about what that streak will look like by the time we’re out of the woods.
19. The kids are annoyed I won’t bring home takeout.
20. Sorry, man, but I remember what it was like to need a paycheck so bad I’d drag my miserable butt into work doped up on cold medicine.
21. Guess you’ll just have to suffer through home cooking.
22. I actually found a Brussels Sprouts recipe that even Bear adores. Yum!
23. Plus, y’know, nutrients and antioxidants and such.
24. I’ve never been so organized with our food supplies.
25. I’ve got a note in my phone with fridge and freezer inventories including expiration dates so I can plan meals.
26. Because if you think I’m letting even one package of hard won chicken go to waste…well, you don’t know me very well.
27. I should probably start in first on using up the produce.
28. Is it time to worry about scurvy yet?
29. If you told me last month that I’d find outdoor labor relaxing I would have called you a liar.
30. You wouldn’t have been lying.
31. I’ve reached the point where pulling weeds in the flower bed counts as getting fresh air.
32. Who knew I liked fresh air this much.
33. If it takes a pandemic to convince me to do yardwork…
34. Still not mowing the grass, though. I never got over the time I stalled the riding mower in our front yard.
35. Public shaming takes its toll, man.
36. I drag the kids outside with me to Get Some Air.
37. Because I’m an extremely benevolent dictator their presence is required, weeding is not.
38. Which means I’ve got one shooting basketball and the other skateboarding while I breathe my fresh air.
39. Whatever, it works.
40. I’ll actually get around to doing the backyard flowerbeds if this thing stretches on long enough. Guess there’s an upside to everything.
I truly enjoy working in the yard in spring, cause here, it’s not too hot for me. I would love to spend days in my yard like I used to — Ugh. But, I sure do love my work, and also, the paycheck!
It IS a lot of cooking. I’d wanted to eat Rice Krispies for dinner and then The Mister decided he wanted to grill out tonight and if you can imagine, he wanted sides.
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Had to take dog for shots where I found pandemic procedures in place. Call to let them know you’re there, when they’re ready they come get you and take you directly to the treatment room. I stopped for a few things I needed afterwards, maintaining social distance in the store. Fresh produce, bread – no paper products at all in the store.
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So many changes to get used to. It’s hard to wrap my brain around shifting attitudes for the long term. It’s even harder to try to explain to the kids that nothing will be the same after this.
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Homeschooling also means no more school shootings. Stay healthy and safe.
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You stay safe, too.
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You’re right, homeschooling isn’t that difficult once one gets the hang of it. Time passes and eventually we get through it. Stay safe
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You too, Sadje. I’m extremely lucky that I’m only overseeing this venture — their teachers are doing the really hard part of planning, creating, and grading this stuff!
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That’s true. And it’s a life saver.
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Getting out and getting air is important. It sounds like you’ve got a well-running ship under your command. Hang in there, you got this.
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Thanks, Dan. One of the kids seems to get it – he’s asking things like “so if we go into a lockdown does that mean we can’t even go outside?” The other one’s still holding out hope with things like “so we only have one more week of this online school stuff?” I’m lucky they’re dealing with it as well as they are, though.
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Maybe some good will come of this. It’s hard to say, given how many people are suffering. Your kids have good role models for dealing with stuff.
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#24 & #32 are the ones I’ve discovered about myself, too. What a week.
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I think we’re all gonna come out the other side knowing a lot more about ourselves!
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it’s all about the air.
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I feel a but dumb saying it but I think I…forgot? It’s so easy to put my head down and move on to the next job in the house that going outside just stopped happening. That part has been a pleasant surprise.
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I so get it
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Really liked this.
Our school is expecting all kids to log onto the school system from 8.20 each day and then stay working until 3.20. As so puts it I will log on then go back to sleep. I guess that’s just like a normal school day.
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That *does* sound remarkably like a normal school day! My high schooler was told to expect to log 6-7 online hours a day but they’re following their normal rotating schedule so he doesn’t have all his core classes every single day. Monday was medium, Tuesday was heavy, Wednesday was kind of light…we’re just rolling with it here.
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