COVID

I wrote this for Facebook and rediscovered it today. I thing it bears repeating. 

I have been a teacher for forty three years and this distance learning is the hardest work I've ever done...harder than parenting three children under five while working full time...harder than holding down two part-time jobs and visiting my dad in the nursing home every week while teaching and acting as an assistant principal....harder than teaching AP US History, AP Government and AP Euro, all at the same time, while providing college counseling services for O'Hara grads.  It's HARD.  Teachers are frustrated.  Parents are frustrated.  Kids are frustrated.  But, after 43 years I know one thing.  We will get through this.  Our kids will be fine.  The children of Katrina, many of them who missed school for almost a year, are doctors and social workers and teachers and engineers and delivery men & women and police officers.  Is it hard to teach your kids while holding down your own job? For certain!  Is it hard to try and pretend that everything is okay when you're not sure how you're going to pay the mortage.  Absolutely.  Give yourself and all of those you love the gift of grace.   If a worksheet doesn't get finished, it's okay.  If your kindergartner melts down and refuses to do one more thing, it's okay.  If your high schooler goes on strike, it's okay.  If your middle schooler looks up all the answers for his virtual quiz on line, it's really okay.  We will all be okay.  Know that what you are doing has never  been done before.  We took an education system of both public and private schools and in literally two weeks turned the whole enterprise on its head while at the same time we organized hot lunches for families in need and cared for our own children and families.  Let's be PROUD of what we have done and what we are doing.  The kids will catch up.  Life will return to something like it was before, if not quite exactly as it was.  Let's keep going for a while longer, keeping people safe, especially the most vulnerable in our society.  Let's keep praying while our churches are closed because God isn't only there.  Let's keep loving and hoping and doing this very hard thing.  And, we will be better and stronger and richer in the things that really matter when it's over.  Grace is my prayer for all of you who are struggling (and for me as well).