Virtual classes

 It didn't take long for the relaxation vibes of the long weekend to dissipate. Although there weren't any tears yesterday, the return to school was stressful for all of us. I feel like we are making progress towards establishing a comfortable schedule, but it is certainly slower than I would like. I really miss the normalcy of a predictable schedule.

Yesterday Timmy had his first virtual class. He was timid in front of the camera, a response I found surprising considering his outgoing personality. Hopefully he will warm-up to his teachers and his classmates as he becomes more comfortable with the platform.

Today Robby resumes his enrichment classes and he couldn't be more excited. I'm so glad that he will be reunited with his friends. Today's class is still virtual (his in-person instruction resumes on Friday). Even though he will be reunited virtually, I know that he will thoroughly enjoy every moment.

New Normal?

 Despite my abhorrence for all things Labor Day, we ended up having a pleasant weekend. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, allowing us to finally spend time outside. Scott and I tackled the yard work while the boys rode bikes, played through the yard and began to decorate for Halloween. After being holed up for the past two weeks because of rain, the sunshine felt liberating!

Today we are back to the school routine. Robby is thrilled that his enrichment classes begin this week. So far they are meeting in person (fewer than 10 people with masks and appropriate distancing) and, fingers crossed, they will continue with face-to-face sessions. He has missed his friends and I know that he is anxious to see everybody again. 

This pandemic has impacted so many aspects of our lives, but it has hit relationships the hardest. I am accustomed to conducting much of my life virtually, but there are elements of human interactions that just cannot be conveyed through a video call. Teen friendships rank high on this list. 

Please continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing and be smart about following all protocols. I feel like a new normal is within reach, but it will be pulled back if the Covid numbers spike again. I want my kids to be able to hang out with the friends, but I worry that it isn't going to happen this school year. Mask up, and be safe!

Labor Day

I'm feeling victorious this morning. Timmy and I survived an entire week of virtual school without tears. It wasn't easy, and the lack of tears does not mean that we weren't frustrated. But we are taking the absence of a meltdown as a success. 

I've always hated Labor Day, and this year is no exception. I always found it difficult to feel celebratory when the end of summer arrived. Even though I'm saddened to mark the end of summer, this year the end of the season feels more inconsequential. 

School already started, so Labor Day no longer heralds academia. Because of social distancing, I feel like we never had the opportunity to fully embrace the adventures of summer. I feel sad that we seemingly lost a season, but I am looking forward to the changes of autumn. 

I'm hoping that the world normalizes in the months ahead. I'm starting to feel worn down by the isolation and the stress. We all have missed out on so much- please wear a mask!

Mundane

 Yesterday was uneventful. It felt like just about every other day during social distancing. With the exception of my very clean floors, everything was quiet and rather boring.  

The boys are all settling into their school routines. Scott goes downstairs to his makeshift classroom every morning. With the exception of a brief visit during lunchtime, we don't see him until the end of the school day. With him sequestered in a separate part of the house, it is easy to forget that he is still home. 

Robby and Timmy are both adjusting to their schoolwork. Timmy hasn't cried at all this week, which is a monumental improvement over last week's disastrous start to school. We are both figuring out way through our new roles as teacher and student. In retrospect,  I was naive to hope that we would not experience growing pains.

While I was working, teaching, cooking and running around the house, Homer kept on task with my floors. This little robot is amazing. I'm a little embarrassed by how much joy this has brought to my rather mundane life. I never would have envisioned that I would become giddy over a vacuum!

Robot Love

 Yesterday I broke down and bought myself a new toy. Of course, I justified my purchase because it is really an appliance that will be used to clean the house. Despite my efforts to rationalize, I know in my heart that it is a toy. But I have to tell you, I love my new robot vacuum!

I unboxed my new robot with an enthusiasm that matched Timmy on Christmas morning. I couldn't wait to plug him in, get him charged up and put him to work. After a few hours Homer, my new vacuum, was charged and ready to go. I pushed the button and he happily chirped to life.

Homer spent the next 90 minutes meandering through the front half of the house, picking up dirt while mapping his route. (He is an obedient multi-tasker!) We all watched with amazement as he went about his task. With no sass and no backtalk when doing his chores, my heart skipped a beat. 

I think I'm in love!

Winding Down

 Yesterday began week two of kindergarten and 9th grade. Unlike last week, we did not have any tears! I can't say that the kids were elated with all of their schoolwork, but I'm taking the lack of meltdowns and hysterics as a win.  

My taking the time to prep over the weekend made a huge difference in my stress level. I know that the kids feed off of my anxiety, so when I feel calm and in control, they tend to have smoother transitions. Hopefully we can continue these feel-good learning vibes through the rest of the week.

The weather has been abysmal, which is beginning to impact everybody's mood. We haven't been able to go outside to play in more than a week. Hamlet is (literally) bouncing off the walls with all of his excess energy. I have started to clear the a path throughout the house so that he can zoom around on his scooter and push bike. My goodness he has a lot of energy!

I think we have one more day with the rain and grey skies before we will see the sun again. As much as it saddens me, I'm accepting that pool season has come to an end. It is hard to believe that today is the first day of September. With social distancing and our summer plans wrecked, it feels like we were robbed of some summertime happiness.  We did the best we could under the circumstances, and I know that there is no use in dwelling on the past. I guess I'll just look forward to having twice as many adventures next summer!

When the rain finally stops, I suspect it will be time to drain the pool and pack it up for the year. Who knows, maybe next year it will be replaced with a larger (and more permanent) structure?  Fingers crossed I can work some pool magic over the next few months.

Relaxing and Prepping

Friday evening the remnants of the hurricane blew into our area, providing constant downpours and strong winds throughout much of the weekend. Although I missed the sunshine, I didn't really mind the excuse for hibernating. Last week was rough, and I was relieved for the respite to regroup and relax.

Saturday was spent doing nothing of great importance. I had ambitions to spend the day cleaning and working. Despite my plans, I ended up watching Netflix on the couch while the boys quietly played by themselves. I think we were all in need of some quiet time.

Yesterday I finally made progress towards my weekend goals. I cleaned our bedroom and continued to rearrange the furniture. I'm not happy yet, but we are definitely making progress. I feel like we are playing furniture Tetris. I keep moving large pieces of furniture in hopes of finding a functional and pleasing new flow to the home. I'll get there eventually, assuming that my moving men don't revolt first.

When the furniture was moved and the house was put back together I went to work in the kitchen. In an effort to diminish my stress, I spent several hours prepping and cooking for the upcoming week. When I was done cooking I was able to squeeze in a few hours of work, trying to get ahead so that my schedule. Hopefully my efforts will result in less stress and more energy as the week progresses.