Today, we made the very difficult decision to not allow are kids to return to in-person learning in the Fall. There was no winning in this situation. My kids will benefit a great deal from getting out of the house, being in a classroom, structured learning, and having social interactions with their peers. And yet I made the decision, the career-pausing decision, to have them continue their learning at home. I can’t risk their health, not even for learning.
COVID is unpredictable. It started off that it did not appear to effect children. Now, it effects a small percentage of children, but not necessarily in the ways it effects adults. And children are often asymptomatic carriers, which means they can bring it home. Did I mention, while rare, child deaths have been reported? This is not ok! If I can protect my children, even from the unknown, I will.
It wasn’t easy, but we broke the news to the kids. Syd couldn’t be bothered to care, but I broke Pooh Bear’s heart! This is her last year of elementary school. The last year with some of her peers, her teachers, and the building that has been her school home for the last 5 years. All she could see was the rest of the year at home (even though I told her we will take it 1 trimester at a time). She wanted to cry. I saw it in her eyes, but she is too much like me. She doesn’t like to show her emotions.
At this point, all I can do is pray. Lord, I know this is all a part of Your purpose and Your plan. I pray that the plan is to rid this world of COVID and give my baby the last hoo-rah she is looking for before her Junior High adventure. Amen!
