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My kids all started school last week! The big kids’ elementary school has decided to start in a remote learning format with the hopes of moving to a hybrid model once it’s deemed safe to do so.

Even though we are doing distance learning, Hubby & I made the decision to try out a pod that we can send both E & D to. The one we decided on is run by our local community center and enrollment is on a month to month basis so for now, they’re just going to the pod for the month of August. I think we’ll probably re-register for September but the rest of the year is up in the air (especially the wet months during cold & flu season). I genuinely think what’s right for my family won’t necessarily be right for yours, and along with that, don’t think I need to give any justification or reason for why we decided on the pod – only that it was what made sense for our family at this moment. But I will say that I love that the kids get to have their break times with the other kids in their pod (they have 45 minutes of Zoom instruction alternating with 30 minute breaks all day). D actually has a classmate that is in his class with the same teacher in his pod, so that’s been fun for them to really feel like they’re doing school “together.”

A’s preschool is under a different set of jurisdictions and rules since they’re not part of the public school system so they reopened for in person classes last week. The kids aren’t wearing masks but the adults are all wearing masks/shields. There is lots of temperature taking, hand washing, daily questionnaires … Even so, honestly, I re-think my schooling decisions for all three kids, and especially A, every day. Am I doing the right thing? What does balancing the pros vs cons for any situation look like? I don’t think there’s a right answer but what I do know is that A LOOOOOVED being back at preschool. She skipped right in on the first day, waved bye, didn’t even give me a hug and ran to wash her hands. When I pick her up, she’s always bubbling with happiness and excitement over what she did at school that day and asks when she gets to go back. So at the very least, she’s learning and getting the social interaction she’s been lacking and is very, very happy (which makes me happy!).

So it makes it all the more sad that THIS week … her school was forced to close indefinitely (insert facepalm). It’s not because of COVID but because of some other safety issues they had going on that didn’t come to light until a day or two ago. They are working as quickly as they can to safely reopen but … looks like we have a 3-year old at home with us again for the time being!