Pandemic 2020 and School From Home

Due to the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 2020, the kids did not return to school after Spring Break 2020.  So from mid-March to the end of the school year, the kids got to experience Mom and Dad as “teachers” in a school-from-home scenario.  The kids’ teachers posted educational opportunities and assignments.  Michelle and Tony worked full-time from home and used breaks to feed the kids and help with their learning.  All assignments from the school district were optional.  We bought a tablet and signed the kids up for ABC Mouse to provide them with some educational opportunities they could do independently while Mom and Dad were working.  

We started out strong with projects like this All About Me one where they drew self portraits and worked on together.

Johanna graphed out her teddy bear sizes.

Walter was required to practice his name every day and do a worksheet.

Johanna had a learning menu and she picked an activity from each row, each day.

Walter did the minimal effort possible to move on to watching TV or using the tablet.  Here is the picture he drew of his family.

We established a schedule we tried to stick to.

They had some fun and we all enjoyed, as well as disliked, aspects of this unexpected twist on learning.

Tony at his desk in the fuse panel room, Johanna at the kids work table and Michelle taking a break away from her desk and working on the couch (Walter presumed to be sneaking in TV or tablet time out of sight).

Tony returned to working in his office at Mercy in mid-May. The kids shortly thereafter started going to Mercy Daycare as it was hard to manage working full-time, feeding the kids (why do they eat so often?) and avoiding TV 24/7 with only one parent at home. 

The kids enjoy seeing Tony at work.  Here they are "spying" on Tony while he does some work near the daycare playground.

Michelle enjoyed her new home office and ability to focus on work.

Johanna used the extra time at home to learn how to ride her bike without training wheels. And Tony is getting more biking in as Johanna is always asking to go for a ride. Walter started riding, with training wheels, too.

With the kids spending more time together, we have been lucky that they have been getting along well. We also welcome the opportunity to get out to Wayne and Millie's as they have more space to play ball and ride bikes.

Playing with some cool trucks that Wayne and Millie made. 

Playing outside in the front yard with their animals.

Making an art project of flowers, spelling "Dad".

Pandemic Facts ..... April 2, 2020

Gas price a mile from home was under $2

School remote from home

Self-distancing measures on the rise.

Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.

A limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.

Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.

Entire sports seasons cancelled.

Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.

Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.

No masses, churches are closed.

No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 5 or more.

Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.

Children's outdoor play parks are closed.

We are to distance from each other.

Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.

Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.

Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.

Shelves are bare.

Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.

Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.

Fines are established for breaking the rules.

Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.

Press conferences daily from the President & Governor. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.

Government incentives to stay home.

Barely anyone on the roads.

People wearing masks and gloves outside.

Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.

Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.

This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.