2020 – the year where nothing is normal, everything is chaotic, but everyone is trying their best. Sometimes you have to laugh, cry or yell (or all 3) to just get by. We asked 3 people on our crew to help get different perspectives on how they are handling their work, school and still prioritizing their health.
Kayla is a nanny turned full-time homeschool teacher since Covid. Her days became much busier and her days much longer – but she works hard to still find time for herself.
Jacqueline is a teacher navigating this new, unfamiliar way of educating students and also a mother of 2 young boys who are in a hybrid style school. Through it all, Jacqueline is keeping a positive attitude!
Miriah is managing her role as a mother/ teacher/ ultrasound technician as best as she can all while trying to move out of her house! Through the chaos she is working on staying grounded and keeping to a healthy routine.
We hope that you guys get a laugh or two out of their stories and can feel some relief that you are not the only one going through this!
Kayla
All I have to say as a nanny for three / homeschool teacher, bless you parents, because I get to do the fun stuff and then give them back at the end of the day to go home and enjoy a bottle of wine.
The last couple weeks have definitely been challenging. Not only did I go from homeschooling one kiddo to homeschooling three of them but I also went from working 40 hours a week to 55. I know we all have the same amount of hours as Beyoncé but all I could think was when will I EVER find the time for ME. Trying to balance homeschooling, a part time job, working out, a social life, and a relationship seems pretty impossible. But here I am, maybe not thriving but alive and well.
Something I find really helpful is to plan, plan, plan. I have my own personal daily planner, a children’s planner, my work family calendar, and my personal family calendar (even though I don’t even think my husband looks at it). I usually try and sit down on Sundays to plan out my personal week… deciding when I have time to get my Sweat Fixx classes in, what I’m going to make for dinner, when to place my Whole Foods grocery delivery (because you know my busy ass isn’t going there myself), and honestly when I can even sit to just read a book. I feel like when I see it on paper, it usually comes to life. Maybe not at the time slot I put it at… but it gets done.
Also another huge piece of advice I can give anyone home schooling is to not take everything so seriously and to enjoy the small moments. Small moments like, mid serious conversation to a 2nd grader about having to pay attention to their zoom meetings and being more responsible, asking “do you understand what I’m saying?” and them answering, “if girls try to pee standing up then they just pee all over the floor”. Or when we have 5 seconds for a quick cuddle and the little asks, “Kayla why are your legs so hairy?”. Sometimes you just have to laugh because kids really are hilarious. Even when you are three coffees deep and juggling four things at once. More small moments like, your kindergartener reading a tough word in his own. Celebrate! Your preschooler finally identifying that random number 9 that they haven’t been able to identify on their own yet. Celebrate! Your second grader has been practicing how to count by 7’s and nails it. Celebrate!
Don’t forget about yourself, you’re a superstar too!! You have a spare 40 minutes to make your favorite dinner, celebrate! You made it to a 5:30 class when you just left work at 5:10 last minute, celebrate!
2020 has been a really challenging year for everyone. You’re not alone. Don’t forget to reach out to your support system is you need some workout accountability, help with the kids, or even just someone to complain with. Sometimes all you need is a good venting session. We are not Beyoncé. We can’t do it all. But we can try really freaking hard. If today didn’t go as planned, guess what, the sun will come out tomorrow, unless you live in New England than who knows. But you catch my drift.
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Jacqueline
Being a teacher as well as a Mom can be trying on a regular day, add COVID-19 to the mix and well, I think that speaks for itself! The past few months leading up to the start of school have been very stressful and worrisome for us all! In my case, I am teaching fully remote from home and my two sons are hybrid. Now that this learning circus has settled in, it is actually not as bad as I had envisioned it to be! Although I feel like a first year teacher again, I am remaining optimistic, learning a lot, and taking things as they come. Masks, sanitizer, desks 6 feet apart, Google Classroom, Zoom, cohorts, mute, unmute, screens off, screens on, everyone talking at once, 75 new websites and curriculums (for myself and the boys) are all very real but I’ve learned to take LOTS of deep breaths and remember I am only human and can only do my best. If I have any advice to give as we navigate this new learning normal it would be to be present in each moment and try your very best, if you do this and things still aren’t perfect, it’s ok! This is brand new and a huge learning curve for all teachers, students and families alike! We will get through it, we can do hard things (or at least that’s what is on repeat in my mind!)
When it comes to keeping my teacher life and the rest of my life in order, I need to make sure I plan and write things down! I literally have lists everywhere because if I don’t write it down when I think of it I will forget! At the end of each day I try to condense the lists and check off! I plan everything from my weekly meals, to my kid’s outfits for school, to when I can catch a live or virtual class or maybe squeeze in a walk or run! For me the motto, “fail to prepare or be prepared to fail” could not be more true! My mind feels so much better when I have my week planned out which in turns makes for a happier me and a smoother week for us all! Any last advice I can give would be to try and plan things out especially if you’re always running in a million different directions like me! Also, try to squeeze time in for yourself and move your body! If you can’t make it to a class in the studio or fit in a virtual one, get outside for a walk, even if it’s 15 minutes! Moving your body will always put you in a better state of mind!
As we all await the big day when we can get back to school 100% of the time and get back to normal, just remember it’s ok to have it all together one day and be a hot mess the next (#balance), moms and teachers, we got this!
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Miriah
Adrianna 9 and Dantae 6 full remote, still in ultrasound 2 long days, and 1 virtual class. Oh and I added a move on top of it. I may be insane…