Well folks, it’s time! Time to tackle another 2020 Challenge! What should be a celebration is certainly different this year. I cannot imagine working at home with two littles and then try to navigate Zoom School! So, my question is, how are people doing it? How are you making sure your child gets a great education and YOU keep your job? After searching and having conversations with friends, here are a couple of suggestions.
Talk with your employer. If you are an asset to your organization, they may have ways they can work with you to help you figure this out! Maybe you work with your child in the morning and work later in the day. Maybe you work evenings for a while until you establish a school routine with your child. There are laws that have been put in place to help you get through this time. You may be covered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Attached is a link with a ton of great information. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employee-paid-leave
I’ve read a lot about families who are setting up co-ops with other children and their families. If you’ve been riding out the storm with a group of trusted friends, this might be an excellent option. We are working on an option where my older child (who is done with school early afternoon), can sit with the younger (who has a less structured school set up) and give Mom a break to focus on work. Nope, it’s not ideal, but we’re working on it.
When it’s all said and done, it comes down to one thing (again), being KIND! Reach out to the families you know. Figure out what it is that you can do to help them. Can you make a meal? Can you offer to give Mom or Dad a break? Do you have a desk you could help them set up so Junior has a place all his own? Like Whitney, I believe that children are our future. We need to make sure we are doing everything we can to help them. When we put on our grown-up pants and work towards solutions, we can figure it out. I believe in us. We got this!
