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Tag Archives: COVID-19

Back to School in the Time of Corona

7 / 20 / 207 / 20 / 20

Katie

So I officially registered my kids for our district’s virtual learning program for this school year.

Virginia

Congrats on making a decision! I think one hard part for me was just pulling the trigger.

Katie

Yes! I agonized about it, too! But once I actually made the decision, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders.

Virginia

I’m happy you have peace about it. How’d you decide?

Katie

Lots of factors. I have the flexibility to make home instruction work, so I’d like to minimize my family’s exposure to COVID where possible. We also feel the necessary safety restrictions at school will take away our favorite social aspects of school. And with virtual learning, our kids will still be connected with great teachers.

Virginia

It’s good that you were able to hone in on your priorities. 

We decided to send our kids back to school. H will be in our church preschool and my son, C, will be in public school. It took me a while to get there, though. We all want to make the “right” decision.

Katie

I think there are many benefits to being in the school building, too! I don’t think there is a right or wrong decision about school this year. So many uncertainties and no easy solutions.

Virginia

Yeah, you and I are in the same circumstance in that we are fortunate to have the ability to stay home. But, my daughter (preschooler) needs the attention that she missed when I was hustling to homeschool back in the spring.

Katie

I can totally understand that!

Virginia

And on the flipside, since my schedule will involve driving her to and from her school that may conflict with a potential virtual school schedule for her older brother.

Katie

Each family’s circumstances are different, so it makes sense we sometimes make different choices. Once I made the decision to keep our kids home and stopped worrying about what other people might choose (or how they may feel about my decision), I’ve felt more free to get excited about this coming school year and focus on making the most of it.

Virginia

So I’m starting to imagine some very cute Pinterest-y work stations at your house….:)

Katie

Hahaha … or some humorous Pinterest fail moments to remember at least.?

Virginia

Lol! Please post pics. 

It’s impressive to me that you’re taking your child’s preferences into the equation. It can be easy to dismiss those. I remember you mentioning your two middles don’t want to go back to school.

Katie

Yes – and my oldest only wants to go back once he can play football with 30 of his classmates every day during lunch recess.??

Virginia

Well, I hope he doesn’t have to wait much longer for that.  

What I find funny is we’re both former teachers and I don’t want to homeschool and you do.

Katie

Yes! And that’s totally okay. You know, I never planned to homeschool. I’ve always been a public school advocate and active volunteer at my kids’ schools. So, I had to take a moment to grieve that “loss” as I made the decision to keep our kids home this year.

Virginia

And it’s okay to acknowledge that. God doesn’t expect us to instantly don a smile and prance around a flowery field when we learn that life isn’t meeting our expectations. We’re allowed our feelings.

Katie

Prance around a flowery field.???

Virginia

Remember when Lazarus was really sick and Mary and Martha sent for Jesus? He took his time to return and Lazarus died. Jesus didn’t pop in and say, “Why are you ladies so upset? I’m going to bring him back to life!” He wept with them because his friends were in pain.

Katie

Jesus knows our pain and grieves with us.

Virginia

Yes, and He also shows us another strategy to get through tough times. In Genesis 1, we see him creating, then stopping. Then some more creating, and then stopping. It’s not like He needed a chance to take a nap. He is showing us how to move forward, whether the road is rocky or smooth.

Katie

That is so true! God could have created everything in one instant, but instead He showed us how to take it slow and value the process. 

I’m praying God will give me the strength and patience and wisdom to make the most of this challenging year. And just to be faithful with what He wants me to do one day at a time.

Virginia

Perfectionism will try to get us to question ourselves and our choices if we don’t hit the ground running and have everything smooth sailing by day 2 of this school year….

Katie

Here’s to letting go of perfect and just pouring our hearts into whatever God lays in our paths this year!

Soaking in the Truth

Scripture to encourage you:

  • “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Colossians 3:23, NIV)
  • “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5, NIV)
  • “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” (Isaiah 26:3, NIV).
  • “He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.” (Deuteronomy 32:4, NIV)
  • “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” (Genesis 1:3-5, NIV)
  • “When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother (Lazarus) would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied. Jesus wept.” (John 11:32-35, NIV)

Music to inspire you:

  • “He Knows” by Jeremy Camp
  • “Praise You in the Storm” by Casting Crowns
  • “There Was Jesus” by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton 

Readings and Resources to come alongside of you:

  • “3 Keys to Stress-Free Homeschooling” by Jon Acuff 
  • Peace in Uncertain Times (7-day devotional readings) by Sarah Young (email address required)
  • You Can Live in Peace: God’s Answer to Anxiety by Ray Pritchard
  • What Will School Look Like? 4 Ways to Pray by Family Life
  • For our Educator Readers… Flexible resilience: My manifesto for the coming school year from Angela Watson’s “The Cornerstone for Teachers” 

Related Posts on Texting The Truth:

  • Maternal Mental Health: A Conversation with Jenny Bowden
  • Bearing Much Fruit in Quarantine
  • Where do we go from here? What is saving you right now?  

Living Out the Truth 

Ideas to try:

  • Focus on the priorities of your family and move forward without guilt. Remember to take your own personality and desire into consideration as well. We’re not all cut out to be teachers and that’s okay too. Don’t try to keep up with anyone else. 
  • Please also remember that we may doubt our decisions from time to time and this is normal. Make sure you talk out loud to your trusted friends and family about these thoughts. Bottling the emotions up will not be helpful. 
  • Pray: Ask God for wisdom. Be honest with Him; He already knows what you’re feeling.
  • Ask Him to multiply your talents to give your children the best year possible. If He can feed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fishes, He can surely help you in any situation.
  • Whether learning at home or school, stay engaged with what your kids are learning. The partnership between home and school really makes kids feel important, and teachers love to know you are involved and willing to help. 
  • If your children are going to school, consider giving them a binder clip to attach their mask on their shirt during lunchtime so it does not sit on the desk or fall on the floor. 
  • If you send goodies to school, make sure they are pre packaged.  Also, include the front office, bus driver, custodians, and administration. 
  • If schooling at home this year, here are some trusted sources and ideas from the Spring: Generic “Just for Fun” Educational Ideas.

Treasured Products we love: 

  • For school at home, it might be helpful to have younger kids get a handwriting book.
  • Especially if they are riding a bus to school, students may benefit from K-N95 masks.
  • Students might like to have hand sanitizer they can attach to their backpacks. 
  • In place of using school water fountains, stock up on personal water bottles that close over the mouthpiece, like this one. 
  • You can spoil teachers even if they are virtual. The Teacher Care Crate is an easy monthly subscription for elementary age students who have one primary teacher. 

{These suggestions are ideas from novice moms. Sometimes our life situations need more.  In that case, seeking out professional help is the right call.}

Before you leave us for the day, please take a moment to complete our reader survey. We are planning for our new writing cycles and want to put forth the best content possible. Thanks for giving us some feedback here: https://bit.ly/textingthetruth2020

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When Nothing Feels Normal

4 / 19 / 20

Laura
Laura

I need coffee…

Laura
Anna
Anna

Hahaha! I need… I don’t know what I need. Coffee may not cut it this morning! I’m not sure if I’m ready to face another homeschooling, homeplaying, home-everything day! 

Anna
Laura
Laura

Home-working. Home-cooking. Home home home… I’m beyond exhausted.

Laura
Anna
Anna

“The on and onness of it!” Haha — Do you remember Violet Crawley saying that in Downton Abbey?

Anna
Laura
Laura

Only one of my most favorite lines!! And yes, it does seem to go on and on right now… I mean when will we get back to “normal”?

Laura
Anna
Anna

I don’t know. I think that’s one of the hard things about it. Not knowing. It was kind-of fun at first, but now it makes me feel cooped-up… even angry at times. And out of control.

Anna
Laura
Laura

I have totally had my fair share of angry outbursts.  And I’ve felt so low some days. Almost, but not quite hopeless. You know all these emotions I’ve been experiencing throughout the last few weeks, they remind me of something.

Laura
Anna
Anna

What is that?

Anna
Laura
Laura

Being a new mom.

Laura
Anna
Anna

Oh! Really?

Anna
Laura
Laura

Yes, I know that seems funny to say, but there’s a lot of overlap!

Laura
Anna
Anna

Let’s hear it!

Anna
Laura
Laura

Ok, so first let me say there were a lot of sweet moments in those first few weeks when my husband was off work and we were together trying to figure out what in the world we were doing as parents. But those were some of the most exhausting and difficult weeks! And that whole first year of adjusting to parenthood was HARD. Figuring this whole shelter in place thing out is maybe even harder.

Laura
Anna
Anna

Yeeeeesssss! Figuring out this new normal…the school stuff…the management of kids without their normal routine… I mean, plus, there’s the feeling of I-need-to-treasure-these-moments and, I do, sometimes, but other times I want to chuck something OUT THE WINDOW. ??

Anna
Laura
Laura

Or throw your kids out the window?

Laura
Anna
Anna

Umm… I wasn’t going to say that out loud but YES. And maybe their devices.

Anna
Laura
Laura

Right?  It’s also like being a new mom because of all the things you start thinking about that you never even considered before!  

I mean, I’ve never really been a germ-a-phobe, but now when I’m in the grocery, I wonder if someone coughed on this box of cereal?

Laura
Anna
Anna

I know, right?!? Lysol. Everything.?

Anna
Laura
Laura

And one of the biggest changes of new motherhood was that I was never alone. I didn’t realize how much this extrovert needed her space?! And I adjusted, of course, but I was just getting used to my kids being at school all day. And now bam?, everybody is home all the livelong day and there is no one to give me a break!

Laura
Anna
Anna

Yes. It’s different from summertime even, when they are still doing activities, going to the pool, going to friends’ houses… Not with this. I’m back to just wishing I could pee without being interrupted!

Anna
Laura
Laura

Exactly! I mean a little privacy please! Can’t a mom even take a shower without screaming at, I mean, talking to someone?!

Laura
Anna
Anna

And like, I feel so conflicted too. Guilty if I’m angry, or exhausted. Guilty if I don’t feel like playing one more round of Chutes and Ladders. ?

Anna
Laura
Laura

Yes… why is mom guilt so heavy right now? I mean, I am still working. Granted, very part time working, but when I say to the boys, “Ok, I need to grade my essays now,” and one of them looks up and screams, “You always have to work!” It is like a shot in the heart.

Laura
Anna
Anna

It is…And especially when you can’t even get all of your work done, and you’ve poured one-too-many bowls of cereal, trying to give yourself 10 more minutes to do your work. 

Meanwhile, GUILT again, because some people are sick, and we are not. Some people are dying or have loved ones passing away. It’s this underlying thought, like “You aren’t feeling the right way.”

Anna
Laura
Laura

Totally! And that happens to new moms too who are struggling, but then remember there are moms with babies in the NICU. And you try to use that thought to rein in your whining and be grateful, but the fact still remains that you are struggling too.

Laura
Anna
Anna

Yep! I totally get the connection. How did we make it through as new moms? That seems like a LOOOONG time ago.

Anna
Laura
Laura

You know I think one thing we can do during this time is to remember, even though it was a long time ago, the best advice we got as new moms and apply it to the situation.  Maybe that will give us a little perspective.

Laura
Anna
Anna

OK. Lay it on me! I need some! 🙂

Anna
Laura
Laura

Best time management advice I got as a new mom: when the baby is sleeping don’t do things that you could do when the baby is awake. The same applies here! If I can fold laundry and watch the twins complete a math assignment, then I should do that.

Laura
Anna
Anna

So good. So, like, taking a bath and reading a book might be good to do after the kids’ bedtime. OK.

I’ve got one. All of the feelings you are feeling are NORMAL. All of them. And none of them are wrong. 

Anna
Laura
Laura

That is the best advice.  And we have all been there and we have all had those emotions to one degree or another.  It’s so nice to know that in this situation all our emotions are normal too.

Laura
Anna
Anna

Yep. So have a good cry in the bathroom with your Cadbury Egg. It’s okay.

Anna
Laura
Laura

Thank goodness for the Cadbury Egg, I mean really. Thank You God for the grace of Easter candy in the middle of a pandemic. Can I have one with my coffee?

Laura
Anna
Anna

Yup. And I think, let’s lower the expectations a bit. Or a lot. I heard this the other day: Take your to-do list and expectations for the day and cut it in half. Now cut it in half again. Now you’ve got an okay list.

Anna
Laura
Laura

And even if you don’t get that list done, guess what? You’re still a mom tomorrow. His grace is still sufficient in this new normal.

Laura
Anna
Anna

His mercies are new every morning!!!

Anna
Laura
Laura

And those new mercies go very nicely with coffee and a Cadbury Egg!

Laura

Soaking in the Truth

Scripture to encourage you: Read the Bible… Anywhere, any time you get!

Music to inspire you: Seriously almost any Christian Song applies to this!  Just listen to worship music whenever possible. Put it on in the background of your life.

Readings and Resources to come alongside of you: Don’t try to find them…. Just read the Bible. As all pediatricians tell new moms: Stop Googling it, mom!

Living Out the Truth 

Just keep Praying, just keep praying… Just keep praying, praying, praying.?

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We don’t claim to have motherhood figured out. Actually quite the opposite. We’re a group of women who first and foremost love the Lord and want to honor Him with our lives and talents. And we decided that what better way for us to sort out this beautiful and messy thing called motherhood but to process it together in text messages? Our prayer is that as we share our real-life stories and honest experiences, every mom who visits our blog will receive tangible truth and experience real grace.

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