Thanks to COVID-19, it looks like kids (and parents) will be facing some big changes in the 2020 school year. Even for those of us who home-school, some things may look a little different. Masks and social distancing may be required at schools and home-school co-ops. Field trip venues may be cancelled. Some or all classes may have to be taken online. Parents have a lot of questions and even more worries.
While I’m thankful that we had decided to home-school long before the pandemic began and have a year of experience under our belt, I do feel for my kids who will be missing their home-school coop friends since we decided not to continue due to the cost and large group size. I feel even more for my friends who don’t have the choice to home-school and have no idea how to prepare their kids for a school year that even the administrators feel uncertain about.
If you, too, are feeling anxious about the upcoming school year, take heart. We are in this together. Let’s focus positively on the now and use this summer as an opportunity to get ahead.
Let’s let God’s creation be our children’s classroom,
grins after accomplishment be their grades, the lake be their lab,
kindness be their main focus, mountains be their inspiration,
and joy be their theme.
Let’s let living creatively become their art, exploration their sport, experience their teacher.
As they grow in knowledge, let us also help them to grow in wisdom—the greatest foundation of all.
And us? Let’s be their biggest cheerleaders as they learn and best encouragers as they adapt to whatever changes might be in store. Let’s model what it means to be a life-long learner. Let’s stop trying to control things we can’t and hand them over to the One who can.
No matter what the 2020 school year holds, our kids are more resilient and flexible than we give them credit for. This year has already afforded ample opportunities to learn big lessons, such as empathy, resourcefulness, and adaptability. And they will continue to learn—academically and experientially. It’s in their nature.
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