COVID Homeschooling Week 2

Just like the rest of the planet, we are plowing through a lot of unknowns.   While my kiddos don't need routine, they do need structure so having dedicated 'class' time every day has worked well for us. I am thankful that our summer nanny is able to support us on the days I have to go to work (a surprise blessing to her loosing her job due to COVID) and is able to follow our 'curriculum' when I am away. 

Domino math:

Daily writing:

Chef Isaac whipping up some soft pretzels!

Mila making sure the birds get fed (although in a somewhat diabolical manner!):

The downtime hasn't been as overwhelming as I thought it would be.  With no time constraints we are coloring for hours or the music play on repeat a couple of times, why not? There is no where to get to! We have devotions at dinner table and both kids have started identifying people they want to pray for (usually teachers and friends they are missing). There has also been time to melt down--all three of us--because we are certainly feeling all the feelings and none of us have the vocabulary to pull from to label them.  The Lord keeps bringing me back to MANNA--just enough for today and today only so we hold on to that promise of provision.  For our daily bread we will give thanks...and also sun breaks and quick trips to the waterfront!

All the driftwood they could carry got piled RIGHT here:

COVID Homeschooling Week 1

So, homeschooling happened.  After assuming our school district would follow Seattle's lead and close for a two week COVD-19 quarantine, we...me and the rest of the universe...were gobsmacked to hear our Governor order a state-wide mandatory closure for SIX WEEKS. ?!?! Then our district decided to extend that closure to 'indefinite'.  What in the actual...?  This all happened on a Thursday afternoon and Friday was already pre-scheduled as a half day for students, giving teachers, students and parents less than 24 hours to wrap our brains around how in the WORLD was this going to work?? I am a healthcare provider on the front lines at the national epicenter of a global pandemic, and a single mom to two kids with special needs...who now need to be homeschooled full time. Oh sweet Jesus. 

I took Friday evening to have a serious meltdown.  Saturday I gathered as many resources as I could.  Sunday we prayed and thanked the Lord for the manna we needed for TODAY, because that was the limit of my available faith.   Monday started our new reality...

Isaac put together his first short story!
"Eat.  I want pezza.  I want pizza now.  Momma said no."   *hahaha*

Typing class:

Daily visits to the Cincinnati Zoo (Mila really enjoys this!):

Mila is building her baking repertoire:

Art Class!

Outdoor time:

I am finding our balance.  Monday was too full.  Tuesday was too lax.  Wednesday I had to develop my first sub plans so I could go to work.   We'll figure it out sooner or later--there is at least five more weeks ahead of us (akkk!).  I am SO VERY THANKFUL that the weather was dry this week and the sun was shinning most days. Can you imagine if we were in this weirdo quasi-shutdown in the middle of winter??   So we soldier forward in this new normal and lean into the promises of our Father to provide for our every need.