Author: This is Life

www.nytimes.com/2020/04/27/nyregion/coronavirus-homeschooling-parents.html

I love my son with all my heart, and we both love learning and sharing what we learn. We also lucked out this year and have an amazing duo of dedicated teachers for his second grade class. They have been so on top of making remote learning fun and exciting each day.

However, I know I’m not alone when I say it’s getting to be next to impossible for he and I to remote learn these days. The schedule is supposed to be 9-11:10, four days per week. We still have yet to finish Monday’s work, and it’s Thursday.

I made the executive decision yesterday to take a day off for both of our mental health; and we spent the day outside exploring instead. We connected, and had a wonderful day – all three of us.

My appreciation for all teachers, especially his, has grown exponentially over the past six weeks. I can’t imagine where teachers find such patience. How they are able to teach my child’s class via Zoom, while also teaching their own children.

This article is so well written. Please read if you have a chance.

Seven weeks into the stay at home order in our state, is where I begin our story. Corona virus has turned our world upside down, as it has for everyone else on our planet.

Where to begin… my son is a sweet, sensitive and loving soul. He is incredibly intelligent, and loves learning. However, he has learning disabilities which often get in the way of his schooling, and life skills. As a family, we’ve sought out professional evaluations through our children’s hospital, and his school. Unfortunately, we were unable to secure an IEP for him, and instead he has a 504 education plan. When school is in session, the accommodations do help facilitate learning for him, but at home, with remote learning, I’m unable to provide what he needs.

See, I’m not a teacher. I’m a mom, a wife, a sister, daughter, friend. My background is in office administration. Need a spreadsheet? I’m your woman. I’ve stepped up to the plate though. Or at least tried to.

See, we are in week seven of mandatory remote learning. We have been incredibly lucky. Our district was the first to have remote learning set up; and they have each day split up into four distinct subjects, with activities to keep the children entertained and interested. The first five weeks went better than I’d expected- he was excited to Zoom to school daily, and see all of his friends and teachers.

Something changed two weeks ago. This boy doesn’t want to see anyone anymore. He wants nothing to do with his school work. No amount of bribery, losing of privileges or creative scheduling helps. Positive and negative parenting attempts have failed. We still have six weeks left and I fear the consequences of his refusal to cooperate.

I’m embarrassed to admit defeat. I’m at a point where I just don’t know what to do anymore. I feel like I’m failing my child, and my family. This is not a place I want to live from.