Homeschooling - The Home Stretch
The end of the school year is rapidly approaching. Nobody could have predicted how these last few months would go, and end of the school year events certainly will be different this year. I think others would agree there is a new appreciation for teachers; I am not sure I realized how much they do for these kids each and every day until I was doing it myself, so many thanks to all the teachers!
How great is it to finally have the warm weather arrive! With a subpar spring, including snow on Mother’s Day, it really makes me appreciate being able to get outside. Our kids enjoy it as well, and it’s been nice to make the most of outdoor educational opportunities. This homeschooling experience has given us time to start some projects that were neglected in the past. Last week, we planted some seeds for a small vegetable garden, and the kids are tracking the progress. They are excited to see what comes up! Our son learned about static electricity after a trip down the slide. While it’s not a classroom environment, it’s been fun to watch them learn and grow using alternative teaching methods.
One positive result of this time of quarantine and social distance has been to see communities coming together. Here in Mount Morris, a local store owner built a large 2020 sign, and banners were hung on Main Street with photographs honoring this year’s graduating seniors. The Inspirations Trail, a Livingston County-wide project of art installations in the nine downtowns, continues to grow and thrive, showing that people continue to find ways to be creative and express themselves even with challenging circumstances. In these times of divisiveness, it is encouraging to see communities come together to help each other out, a trend which I hope will continue and grow.
Businesses are slowly reopening, and life is starting to resume. Not everything will be the same, possibly ever, but my hope is that we have learned some lessons from this experience: slow down, connect with our families, appreciate what we have; elements that are sometimes missing from a fast-paced life. Stay well, and I hope to see all of you soon.