Funny, how when I started this blog I titled each blog the day of quarantine it was…given the new updates in my life, it looks like I’ll be blogging for way longer than I anticipated (at least about what my daily life was like). We got news last week that we’ll be doing Distance Learning until the end of the school year instead of May 4th like we thought. I still think I’m in bit of denial that this is my new reality– teaching from home– recording myself twice a week and posting on Google Classroom. I’ve cried. I’ve felt numb. I’ve felt okay. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions, that’s for sure.
Last week was our first week of Distance Learning, and it was so great to see my Advisory kids! My little teacher heart was elated. Never in my life did I imagine that we’d be ending our four years together like this, and it makes me sad. We won’t be able to celebrate so many “Lasts” — our last study hall, our last community building activity, our last intramural competition, our last potluck. THEIR GRADUATION. These kids have become my children and yes, I know there’s a lot more I don’t know about parenting because I don’t have kids of my own, but I do know this. I know that I’ve cried so many tears worrying about them or crying with them when they’ve shared sad news; I’ve shared so many laughs with them as we created our own inside jokes; I’ve shared so many high-fives and hugs as they shared their great news with me. It’s been four years of getting to know each and every one of them; knowing when they’re in a bad mood or when they’re super excited and vice versa– they knew when I was upset or when I was happy. We’ve become a little family, and I’m just sad that COVID-19 has robbed them of their senior year. Yes, I know there are worse things in the world, but this isn’t a time for comparison. This was their time to enjoy being kids and high school students for the last time, and now it won’t be the same. I am glad that we’ve postponed our prom, and I hope it still happens with the new date. I am glad that our school will work to come up with creative ways to keep them socially connected. I know we will get through this.
In the mean time, I’ve been keeping myself entertained with lots of tv shows on Hulu, Netflix, HBO, and Prime, but I’ve also been reading. My latest read was Chris Bohjalian’s The Guest Room, and it was a great read! I’ve read and taught one of his other books, The Sandcastle Girls, to my English Honors 10 class when I first started teaching, and it’s such an educational, interesting read about the Armenian Genocide. I highly recommend it. Chris Bohjalian is a phenomenal writer and person– he did a Skype interview with my students back in 2012 and tweeted with them afterwards since they were so excited to have talked with him. One of the best activities I’ve ever done, and it was thanks to my coworker whose job I actually took over and had initially set up this call. Today, I began reading In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. So far, so good! A lot of other AP English Lang. + Comp. teachers say they have read this with their AP kids, so I’m checking it out and possibly going to incorporate it into my curriculum for next year. We shall see!
The workouts have been going well, but I did take a break this past weekend and didn’t feel like it today, so I skipped my workout. I know #NeverMissAMonday is a thing, and I try to follow it, but you know what, this new normal includes missing Mondays when you’re just not in the mood to sweat. I’ll start back up tomorrow. I also need to figure out when I can go for a run. Given that they Mayor gave out an alert that we’re urged to stay indoors even more so than ever this week, I highly doubt I’ll be going out this week. I’m just so scared. I don’t want to get sick. I do miss running though. I miss the runner’s high. I miss the freedom my thoughts took as they wandered and thought about everything and anything or the choreography my mind would create when certain songs came on. It’s been 4 weeks since the marathon, and it’s definitely time for some more runs. I have been doing Zumba and dancing on the Xbox though! That’s been fun! A little awkward at first, but then I just go with it and have fun (and work up a sweat!) It’s been my cardio to makeup for the lack of running.
This week is my “Spring Break” and I put that in quotes because really nothing is changing from the last few weeks. We’ll see if anything exciting comes up. I must say though, the Zoom conferences that I’ve had the past week or so with friends and family have been pretty exciting, so maybe we’ll do some more of those this week. We shall see.
For now, Criminal Minds, Season 15, Episode 6 is calling my name. Stay safe. Stay sane. ❤ One love.
Confessions of a 40-Year-Old Teacher Mom 