My heavy Mama Heart. Grade 5, 3, and 1!
I am so torn. Half of me wants to yell "ADIOS KIDDOS, LOVE YOU .. BYYEEEEEEE!!" and the other half of me wants to shield them and keep them home (without homeschooling lol no part of me wants to do that!) and just pretend summer can last forever! My Mama heart should be excited. I should be packing backpacks and fun lunches and jumping for joy at the time I'll get to have alone to work and organize and bake and don't get me wrong, I am doing all those things but with a little less excitement and a bit of a heavy heart.
Our kids start school this week. They've been home since March 13th. From March to June all I wanted was for them to go back to school. I was not made to homeschool during a pandemic. We have enjoyed our summer off so much. Life felt normal. We stayed outside and away from places requiring masks as much as possible. We made life feel normal with playdates and late nights. I worry so much going into the fall season with colder weather that life will go back to feeling trapped among a pandemic and scared people.
I don't want to start a debate. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs. It is ok to disagree and still respect others around you. It is normal to not share the same thoughts on everything. It is ok to like a mask. It is also ok to hate it.
I am really struggling with this mask business. I hate that this is our kids' childhood. I hate covering up their sweet faces. I want to see those smiles, those silly faces and I want to kiss those cheeks without a pesky masks getting in my way. I have to remind my kids a million times over to put it over their nose, to stop touching it. "Its not a slingshot", "I know its hot", "I understand its annoying", "Please put it on your face properly", "don't touch your brother's/sister's masks, its not yours", "Crap, that just fell on the ground didn't it"..... oh the things I say 100 times in 10 minutes. It's frustrating for them and for me.
It also worries me that my kids will drop it at school, share it with a friend, slingshot it across the room and then put that super germy mask on their face and be sick.. ALL.OF.THE.TIME.
I do not want my kids to social distance. At all. I want them around other kids. Learning, socializing. I want them to be able to hug their teachers and for Penny's teacher to pick her up if she scrapes a knee. Or for Bentley's teacher to give him another massive hug and she carries him to the office because he tried to jump from one picnic table to another and got a concussion. But also, if my kids are having a bad day, I want their teacher to be able to read their expressions. To reach out and comfort them if need be.
On the same note, I am trying to be positive. I am trying to push my own feelings aside so I don't push my negative thoughts onto my kids. They are pretty ok with it and are excited to get back to school. I am feeling lucky and blessed that we are in the foothills school division so, unlike the Calgary board of Education, our kids are only wearing masks from grade 4-12. So really only just Carter.
We are trying to be well prepared. We have bought and tried on multiple masks and if the kids say "no", we try again. We finally found some good thin ones at old navy and bought a ton so they won't be wearing dirty masks and Ill have plenty of time to wash them before they are worn again.
Clean masks are hanging, dirty masks on top! Above all.. be kind. School this year is different. There will be no field trips, no assemblies (except via zoom in the classroom). There will be so much hand washing and social distancing. No hot lunch (for now) and Masks in all common areas. There will be no sharing of supplies and each grade will be a "Cohort" to help contact tracing if there is a COVID case in our school. The rules are intense.. like teachers cannot help children open a container from their lunch kit.... which, personally I doubt a teacher would just say no and to let the sweet babe starve but the rule has been said. We will see. Parents are also not aloud to get our of their vehicle at school drop off (this will kill me inside this week) and kids cannot get out of their cars until 8:25. So many different rules and regulations but I am just so happy our kids get to go back to school.
This year with staggered entry, Bentley and Penny's first day of school is tomorrow, September 1st and Carter's first day of school is Wednesday, September 2nd. They only go one day this week and then every one starts full time next Tuesday September 8th.
We are excited and nervous. This year we are happy to know each of their classes and teachers. That is one big relief this year! Each of them are with friends and my mama heart is so happy.
This year our Penny girl is headed to GRADE ONE! I can't even believe it! She will be in Mrs. Felske's class. Neither of the boys had Mrs. Felske but I heard she's an angel and I am so excited for Penny to have her! Penny is so lucky and got so many of her little best friends in her class. She is so excited and she is so lucky!
Penny is literally an angel on earth! She has the sweetest little soul and is so kind and mindful of others. She is bright eyed and has a passion for life! She is so excited to be going to grade 1!
Bentley is going to GRADE THREE!! HOOOWWWWWW!!?
Bentley is nervous about having a "strict" teacher. He has Mrs. Dowson. She sounds lovely with high expectations but Bentley is pretty obedient so I think he will be just fine! It is hard to believe that Bentley is going into grade three. It feels like I just sent him to Kindergarten. Bentley has a quiet and calm spirit but also spunky and silly. Im excited for him to be in grade three!
Now Carter. Sweet, crazy, classic Carter. Carter is SO LUCKY and gets to be in the same class as his two best friends! This should be a great and exciting year for Carter. Carter's teacher is Mrs. Dixon. Ive heard she too is a little more strict and Ive coached him that because he has his two best friends he MUST listen and behave. My fingers are crossed but I know he will absolutely be needing a few reminders. Carter is the sweetest boy ever! This summer he really has grown into a responsible kid. He's been so helpful the last few weeks and kind and thoughtful of those around him. I am going to miss having him around me all the time. He is so sweet and funny and creative, Im going to miss that guy!
It's going to feel weird after having these kiddos home for the last 5 and a half months to send them back to school. The house will be so quiet. Im glad my photography is finally going crazy busy so that should keep me busy for the next few weeks as we ease into our new school routine.
Im anxious for tomorrow and Wednesday but excited for this next chapter. We're going to give this the best shot! We're praying school does not get closed because of COVID and that we will have a successful year staying in school.
Our kids start school this week. They've been home since March 13th. From March to June all I wanted was for them to go back to school. I was not made to homeschool during a pandemic. We have enjoyed our summer off so much. Life felt normal. We stayed outside and away from places requiring masks as much as possible. We made life feel normal with playdates and late nights. I worry so much going into the fall season with colder weather that life will go back to feeling trapped among a pandemic and scared people.
I don't want to start a debate. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs. It is ok to disagree and still respect others around you. It is normal to not share the same thoughts on everything. It is ok to like a mask. It is also ok to hate it.
I am really struggling with this mask business. I hate that this is our kids' childhood. I hate covering up their sweet faces. I want to see those smiles, those silly faces and I want to kiss those cheeks without a pesky masks getting in my way. I have to remind my kids a million times over to put it over their nose, to stop touching it. "Its not a slingshot", "I know its hot", "I understand its annoying", "Please put it on your face properly", "don't touch your brother's/sister's masks, its not yours", "Crap, that just fell on the ground didn't it"..... oh the things I say 100 times in 10 minutes. It's frustrating for them and for me.
It also worries me that my kids will drop it at school, share it with a friend, slingshot it across the room and then put that super germy mask on their face and be sick.. ALL.OF.THE.TIME.
I do not want my kids to social distance. At all. I want them around other kids. Learning, socializing. I want them to be able to hug their teachers and for Penny's teacher to pick her up if she scrapes a knee. Or for Bentley's teacher to give him another massive hug and she carries him to the office because he tried to jump from one picnic table to another and got a concussion. But also, if my kids are having a bad day, I want their teacher to be able to read their expressions. To reach out and comfort them if need be.
On the same note, I am trying to be positive. I am trying to push my own feelings aside so I don't push my negative thoughts onto my kids. They are pretty ok with it and are excited to get back to school. I am feeling lucky and blessed that we are in the foothills school division so, unlike the Calgary board of Education, our kids are only wearing masks from grade 4-12. So really only just Carter.
We are trying to be well prepared. We have bought and tried on multiple masks and if the kids say "no", we try again. We finally found some good thin ones at old navy and bought a ton so they won't be wearing dirty masks and Ill have plenty of time to wash them before they are worn again.
Clean masks are hanging, dirty masks on top! Above all.. be kind. School this year is different. There will be no field trips, no assemblies (except via zoom in the classroom). There will be so much hand washing and social distancing. No hot lunch (for now) and Masks in all common areas. There will be no sharing of supplies and each grade will be a "Cohort" to help contact tracing if there is a COVID case in our school. The rules are intense.. like teachers cannot help children open a container from their lunch kit.... which, personally I doubt a teacher would just say no and to let the sweet babe starve but the rule has been said. We will see. Parents are also not aloud to get our of their vehicle at school drop off (this will kill me inside this week) and kids cannot get out of their cars until 8:25. So many different rules and regulations but I am just so happy our kids get to go back to school.
This year with staggered entry, Bentley and Penny's first day of school is tomorrow, September 1st and Carter's first day of school is Wednesday, September 2nd. They only go one day this week and then every one starts full time next Tuesday September 8th.
We are excited and nervous. This year we are happy to know each of their classes and teachers. That is one big relief this year! Each of them are with friends and my mama heart is so happy.
This year our Penny girl is headed to GRADE ONE! I can't even believe it! She will be in Mrs. Felske's class. Neither of the boys had Mrs. Felske but I heard she's an angel and I am so excited for Penny to have her! Penny is so lucky and got so many of her little best friends in her class. She is so excited and she is so lucky!
Penny is literally an angel on earth! She has the sweetest little soul and is so kind and mindful of others. She is bright eyed and has a passion for life! She is so excited to be going to grade 1!
Bentley is going to GRADE THREE!! HOOOWWWWWW!!?
Bentley is nervous about having a "strict" teacher. He has Mrs. Dowson. She sounds lovely with high expectations but Bentley is pretty obedient so I think he will be just fine! It is hard to believe that Bentley is going into grade three. It feels like I just sent him to Kindergarten. Bentley has a quiet and calm spirit but also spunky and silly. Im excited for him to be in grade three!
Now Carter. Sweet, crazy, classic Carter. Carter is SO LUCKY and gets to be in the same class as his two best friends! This should be a great and exciting year for Carter. Carter's teacher is Mrs. Dixon. Ive heard she too is a little more strict and Ive coached him that because he has his two best friends he MUST listen and behave. My fingers are crossed but I know he will absolutely be needing a few reminders. Carter is the sweetest boy ever! This summer he really has grown into a responsible kid. He's been so helpful the last few weeks and kind and thoughtful of those around him. I am going to miss having him around me all the time. He is so sweet and funny and creative, Im going to miss that guy!
It's going to feel weird after having these kiddos home for the last 5 and a half months to send them back to school. The house will be so quiet. Im glad my photography is finally going crazy busy so that should keep me busy for the next few weeks as we ease into our new school routine.
Im anxious for tomorrow and Wednesday but excited for this next chapter. We're going to give this the best shot! We're praying school does not get closed because of COVID and that we will have a successful year staying in school.