Back to School Prep Covid Style

It would be cliche to talk about how this school year is going to be a learning curve for all of us. I know I have no authority on what will guarantee a positive impact on how this "At-Home-Learning" will flow. I am full force prepping for what is ahead, despite having very little direction from the school as to how school will look come September 8th. I love hearing others' ideas, so I thought I'd share mine.

1. Make the First Day of School as Traditional as Possible. I'm planning to:
• pack lunches for my kids, 
• help them organize new school supplies in their backpacks, 
• have them wear a new outfit (that was one of my favorite parts!) 
• take back-to-school photos, 
• (Per Johnny's request), have them walk around the block, then back to our house for school since every year we walk on the first day. I'm a firm believer a good walk, let's out the first-day jitters!
• have homemade cookies for after school snack, so they can tell me all the details about their first day. 
2. A Back to School Celebration. We will introduce a family theme to keep us focused on the Savior in some way during the school year. This celebration is one of my very favorite traditions. We have a fancy dinner where the meal is split up into different courses and we make a special drink in my punch bowl. I decorate the house with my cheesy-but-I-love-them-dearly school themed decorations. I teach what our new theme means and we talk about Jesus Christ. John gives us all Father's blessings to prepare us for the year ahead. I feel like traditionally this is our last big send off to school every year.
3. School Supplies Shopping. Do we really need supplies this year? Probably not, but it always adds to the excitement for us. I always buy extra Ticonderoga pencils and crayons because I have a serious issue and love freshly sharpened pencils and the waxy smell of crayons.
4. Menu Plan. I made a meal plan for all meals and snacks for the first three weeks of schools. I even made accompanying grocery lists so I know what to buy each week. I think I'm going to be pretty tired keeping everyone motivated all day in their various classes, and this will not only help me stay consistent, but it will set a positive and stable routine for my kids. (Summer has been a little sporadic in the food category over here!)
5. Morning Meeting. At 7:30 AM every morning, I will meet with the kids and go over what each of them has going on that day and what they need to accomplish. I plan to have a white board where I keep notes, so kids can report the following day if they finished tasks. We will then read scriptures as a family and say a family prayer. All their morning responsibilities will need to be done before we meet together. I plan on having a regular playlist starting at 7:20 PM so the kids know it's getting close to finish what they are doing to come to the table.
6. Mom Bucks. This is a Johnny idea. As kids work hard at school and around the house, they can earn Mom Bucks that will buy them privileges like "educational game" screen time or staying up late with Mom and Dad. They can also trade twenty Mom Bucks to the dollar, so they can save up for things (like a lego set, ahem, Johnny.) I am most nervous about this system because I'm typically weary of incentives. With that said, I am willing to do almost anything to get my kids excited about school after their not-so-wonderful experience last year online.
7. Weekly Bonuses. I have a few week-long reward systems that I will pull out as needed. For example, the first week as I see kids make positive choices, I will reward them with a Hi-chew (as in "Hi-chews the better choice.") Another example: I have punch cards and as kids fill their punch card they will earn a personalized prize one week, and another week a one-on-one activity with mom. I also think it will be fun to try to earn points as a group to have a family movie party. These will not be used as bribes, but as recognition for their hard work. It will not be something done weekly, but as needed.
8. Prepped for "Pause Days". I am positive there will be a day in which we all just need a break. I figure pushing "pause" for a day is more productive than pushing the bright red "I QUIT" button. Option 1: I purchased fall/winter pajamas for my kids. On a day when morale is particularly low and endurance spent, we'll pull out the new pajamas and get comfy (even if it's 9:00 AM!) We'll close the blinds, and watch movies or read aloud, and cuddle all day just taking it easy. Option 2: Perhaps the same circumstances, but instead of a "comfy break" we beeline it to the coast for the day. Essentially, I am preparing to be OK if we need to step back for a day in order to reset and recommit. 
9. Learning Spaces. Caity pointed out it would be beneficial for every child to have their own special place to do schoolwork. We bought lap tables at Michael's and will fill needed supplies into the cubbies. William is already quite taken with his little lap table, and worked well into last night on his kindergarten workbook from last year. The night before school, we will set up everyone's mini-office, so they know where to go and how to get started when we divide for school in the morning. I will post a note in their space with all their pass-codes and school schedule. Last year we were all clustered around the kitchen table and it made for a chaotic day. 
10. Plan for the Worst. This is definitely a "me thing." Worst case scenario I am going to be bouncing around from Chromebook to Chromebook putting out fires from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. It sounds exhausting. I mentally role play through the school day and will myself to stay positive among the glitches and frustrations. I think about how chaotic it will be figuring out each teacher's system and expectations, but I plan to give myself plenty of grace. I will need to focus on the small and simple things right in front of me so I don't get overwhelmed. I am determined to search for solutions among the inevitable frustrations. My goal is to be firmly optimistic...but perhaps have some special mom-only ice cream in the freezer to boost my morale as needed!
11. Create a Binder. It took me six weeks last spring to realize I needed a binder organizing all my kids' classes. In my binder I have a folder for each child, and to two sections to store finished work, important documents and notes. Current and unfinished assignments will go in the folder.
12. Deep Clean my House. This is pretty self explanatory. Clean house = happy Mary. It will be so much nicer to work in a tidy, organized space. I have already started organizing closets, drawers, and cupboards. The Saturday before school, we will do more of the scrubbing, wiping, laundry, and vacuuming.
13. Squeeze the Last Day of Summer for All it's Worth. On Labor day, John and I want to take the kids to float the river, perhaps go on a hike, and end the day with a bonfire. As a sidenote: I hope to wrap it all up by 6:00 PM that Monday so we have time for showers, next day set up, story time, and early bedtime.

So there is the hopes and dreams, I am sure a follow up will come in the next month updating on how everything went. I fully aware none of these could work or I am underestimating burn out. Either way, it so fun to document what is in my head as I walk into the unknown. I am sure years from now I will find joy in this short season prepping for the 2020/21 school year!

The World Turned Upside Down

On March 12th I:

• dropped Matthew off at joy school
• met with the PTO president about that afternoon's meeting
• grocery shopped, then decided to *not* buy anything in my cart because I was so overwhelmed by the crowds.
• planned Johnny's Battle of the Books team meeting that would happen right after school.
• ministered to a dear friend from church

Within one hour,

• Extra curricular activities, meetings, and volunteering responsibilities were canceled in order to slow progress of COVID-19, the Corona Virus.
• The kids' basketball leagues were cancelled.
• Preschool was cancelled.
• Sunday worship and all church gatherings were cancelled.
• Disneyland was closed.
• Missionaries from church were being sent home. 

It felt like the walls were closing in, and it was a lot to process in a short amount of time. I was in the pick-up line at school, and my phone kept buzzing with new notifications of closures. I parked the car, anxious to hear any updates from other parents. I remember standing outside the elementary school talking with everyone, trying to understand and guess the gravity of what was happening. Stores were declaring food and cleaning supply shortages, and offices were arranging for employees to work from home.

I felt nervous and stressed. We were out of food, and despite many promptings to do so; I did not have food storage prepared, especially for a quarantine. I felt an urgency to go shopping Thursday night, but as I prayed for wisdom, peacefulness washed over me. I felt the Spirit encouraging me to be patient and not get carried away in the circus of panic, (that was catching faster than the Corona Virus, honestly.) I felt reminded to be mindful of the moment. I chose to attend Johnny's team pizza party at the elementary school park. I am so grateful I did. I didn't realize at the time it would be the last social activity like I would do for a loooong time. It was also our last time hanging out with our friends, the Cummings.

On Friday, March 13th Governor Brown declared a "State of Emergency" requiring a massive shutdown to stop the spread of the virus. After I dropped the kids off at school, I looked over my grocery list, and prayed for direction. I felt the Holy Ghost prompt me which store to go to first (Winco), and what to purchase. Fellow shoppers and workers were kind and encouraging as I rang up a cart full of food to feed our family of six for a two week quarantine (at least). As I was leaving Winco, the crowds increased exponentially. There were cars lined up waiting for me to leave, and herds of people moving down aisles. I felt so grateful I missed the chaos, by going to Winco first thing..
I headed to Costco next. I said a prayer in the car with Matthew that I might know what to buy in what order, and that I would be able to see opportunities to serve others. As I walked in the store, I felt prompted to start with milk. Forty-five minutes later, it was sold out. Had I waited until the end to grab dairy, as usual, I wouldn't have gotten the milk. It was simple, but I felt grateful. In Utah, yeast was so sold out, and I was able to get some for my mom.
Two weeks prior to all this I acted on a nagging feeling to refill my cleaning and household supplies, including toilet paper, soaps and detergents. As I walked through Costco, all these shelves were empty. I felt grateful to have one less worry and cost. Because of saving and mindful spending, we had enough money to buy the needed food and supplies in the quantity needed. I felt humbled knowing this hasn't always been the case in other stages of our life, yet we've always been watched over.
As I mentioned earlier, I prayed to find people to comfort. Amid the chaos at the stores, and the fear on people's faces; I felt blessed with peace, and was able to connect and serve. I remember thinking clearly how in uncertain times like this, Satan wants us to feel fear and distrust. Meanwhile God would have us feel hope and have faith. As I waited in that long Costco line, I made a personal commitment to choose the latter. It isn't always so simple I know, but after experiencing so many personal, simple, and perhaps small "miracles" my morning, it was clear that God is present when I make time to see Him.

Caity's last practice Thursday Night before everything was canceled.

Caity at the spelling bee Thursday morning.

We had some of William's kinder friends over for a play date Friday after school, we miss them!

Our first Sunday with at-home church (it was such a good small worship with our little family!)