Growing up I had a lot of ideas about what I wanted to be when I grew up. There was a brief stint where I wanted nothing else but to be a pediatrician and play with babies all day. Then, I wanted to work at Costco so badly I could taste it. My sister and I would take turns reciting sku numbers, typing them into my parents’ 10 key calculator with a receipt as quickly as we could and packing the things nicely into a box from the peanut butter we ‘purchased’. Then there was the model/actress, specifically soap opera actress on an ABC only soap. Then writer, (still want to be that one), and mom. Never once in my life did I aspire to be a teacher. Never. Now, with an 8th, 6th, 3rd and 1st grader I’ve been thrown into a role I’ve never once considered.
Welcome to the classroom Mrs. Palizzi.
I realize that this quarantine school isn’t like real home school. We are in crisis and dealing with it as such. I realize that had I chosen to homeschool it would be a lot different, less stressful, less structured and less busy. I didn’t, however get that choice, and many of you didn’t have the choice either. It’s hard. I feel like I’m being forced to steer these four children in different directions on the same path and I’m losing it.
My friend Jana says we need to be given grace right now, to ourselves, to our children, to the teachers and administrators that are pressing down. I’m trying but when I get 16 emails in a row saying my 6th grader has missed assignments the grace is hard to come by.
For you other mamas and papas that have been thrust into this role of teacher as well as wearing the millions of other hats you wear, just know you’ve got this. Give yourself grace, as Jana would say. This is a temporary (I PRAY) situation and your best is good enough. Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself.
