Staying Positive
Hello! Happy Sunday, all.
I’ve decided to write about a few things that have been on my mind this week.
Things have been super busy these past few weeks. I’ve gone back to work [teaching virtually] after summer break. The girls have started back to daycare after 5 months of being home. I’ve fallen back into the routine of juggling full time work, raising kids, and taking care of the house, etc. It’s always been an exciting, but extremely overwhelming time of the year. Even with the disruption to my easy-going, do whatever we feel like schedule, the month of August and all it brings is one of my favorite times of the year. To me, having a routine comes with a sense of comfort. This year I’ve looked forward to this even more than usual, because, like everyone else in the world, I’ve craved any type of normalcy in this very different world we’re living in today. I’m choosing to stay positive, even when things are only half the normal that I’m used to.
Right before school started the girls were accepted back to our daycare. I had an alternative plan in place, but was worried about them socially and academically. They learn SO much at daycare, or as Stella calls it sometimes, “play care.” I worried they were silently struggling with not seeing their friends. I worried that they weren’t advancing for their age and thought maybe the lack of leaving the house most days was taking a toll on their behavior. They have now completed two full weeks and in their minds, the world is totally back to normal. It has been so great hearing them talk about playing with their friends and tell me all about what they learn each day on the drive home. They’re even extra tired at night, which is an added bonus.
Before school started, aside form stressing about all the logistical aspects of virtual learning, I was very worried about how I would begin a relationship with my new students when my only chance to see them was during a chaotic google meet. I kept thinking… will they show up every day? How will I get ahold of them if they don’t? Will they want to talk to me since we’ve never met in person? So many more questions filled my head. I’m telling you right now, my new students have been so amazing! They have surprised me every day by showing up with a smiling face and a positive attitude for learning. It’s clear they’re eager to get into the classroom, but like me, they’re making the most of the situation right now. Don’t get wrong, I face so many [technical] challenges on a daily basis and I’m constantly needed to tell myself to take a “brain break,” but Im also confident that this is temporary and it will get better.
I continue to be disappointed in the lack of events and activities that I look forward to doing every year. I know I’m not alone in this. But, I think what we’re all starting to realize by this point, is that our friendships and relationships with family are thriving. We’ve been forced to be creative with how we spend our time together. That makes for more quality time and less worrying about the materialistic things we think we need to occupy our time. Right now, I’m enjoying small group hangs in our backyard and Sunday night dinner with family.
I believe focusing on the positive is what has helped me survive. We have to, or else you end up getting caught up in the bad stuff. My advice… stay positive, be happy, and spread it around.
XO
Sarah
