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.  

Sibling Chefs: Valentines Day 2020

In the early days of new flam-ly-hood I was surprised both by Isaac's easy acceptance of this new stranger in his house and Mila's deep resistance to accept the tiny Asian that apparently was apart of the New Mother Contract she was given. She clearly had no say in the matter; I had just assumed that in coming from a dorm of 4 others with Down syndrome she would transition easily to a new sibling.  That has not been the case.  Helping the Annoying Little Brother temper his excitement and shepherd the Moody Big Sister towards some sort of reasonable acceptance has been a full time job.  

BUT as we close in on being a flam-ly for 16 months, there has been a softening and a drawing-near that is making life a little bit easier for everyone. 

Mila has been asking where her brother is, making sure he hasn't left the house (something he doesn't do alone), or when guests leave "but brother stay in m'home".  Yes, Isaac always stays with us.  "Ok, good, Mommy".   Also--Isaac, stop touching your sister! 

Midwinter break snuck up on me this weekend and I didn't have any plans for us.  In a last minute scheduling hail mary, I told the kids we were going to spend Valentines Day getting ready for a special Momma-Mila-Isaac Party.  *Gasp*  Oh really?!?!

STEP ONE:  Pick your meals and make your shopping list. (Another HUGE plug for Raddish Kids cooking club!)

(Pasta, Tomatoes, Mozzarella, Olives)

STEP TWO: Go to the store, man your own shopping cart, buy your supplies, bag your own groceries (not pictured)

STEP THREE: Make your recipes (with a bit of Momma's help)

 A year ago she wouldn't even cross into the kitchen--now she is working on knife skills!  (Or as she calls it "haircut tomatoes")

These two pictures MELT ME!! 

 

Look at my little chef chopping basil!  In a stellar kitchen-teaching moment, they spent 20 minutes taking turns sniffing different spices finding ones that were sweet or smelled like soup or pie.  #homeschoolwannabes

STEP FOUR:  Set the table with the special dishes, fold real napkins, light candles and blast a 50s love-themed playlist. 

I remember reading somewhere about creating special-ness within the normal activities of life. We make and eat dinner every night of the week, so what?  Today was special, not because it was Valentines Day, but in the midst of a season of sibling softness, there was an opportunity for intentionality.  And from that my 15 year old declared at dinner "ohhh, Isaac. I like da meatballs. Good job".  And my 9 year old responded with "good noodle salad Mila!"  And I nearly fell out of my chair. 

Also...I didn't have to make dinner tonight, so Happy Valentines Day to me.  *wink*

Chinese New Year 2020

It took me a few years to find our Chinese New Year groove, but when we found the annual Lunar New Year celebration at the Bellevue Mall, I felt like we had struck gold. We have a special meal at home every year, but genuinely look forward to Isaac dawning his silks and celebrating the joy of our Asian friends & family. 

Isaac got to craft a Year of the Rat lantern.  We generally don't focus on the 'year of' component of CNY but he was excited to create and show off his new modeling skills...it's really too bad he doesn't have any personality to back it up with.  *eyeroll*

I'm so proud of Mila. We were snowed in last year for CNY (#snowmagedon2019) so this was her first opportunity to experience a larger piece of her brother's heritage.  She was the first to find a place for us to see the stage and the first to find the start of the dragon parade: "There it is!  I'm see it!"  She soaked in every dance and performance of the "Big China Party" (but was quick to comment "China Party big loud. Albania Party not loud" #fairenough).  She gobbled up some PandaExpress and even tasted her first fortune cookie.  Not too shabby for my Balkan girl. 

Happy Chinese New Year to my favorite recently-growth-spurted Chinaman.  Your people are our people and I love how big our Asian friends love Jesus.  Thank you for creating such a big part of my heart.