Distance Learning 2020

I wish I could say that, after nearly three weeks of Distance Learning, we have this thing figured out and under control. We are so far from that I could cry. And I do. There are so many things that are hard about this. For Clare, it is not seeing friends on a regular basis. For Christopher, it is everything school-related, even though he is perfectly capable of doing the work.

The teachers are amazing. They have done a wonderful job with what they have to work with. Clare has a new teacher this year, and I have been super impressed with her and the level and quality of work Clare has been given to complete. We know Christopher's teacher well (he was Clare's teacher for the last three years), and he is dedicated and works so incredibly hard. Nothing that is hard about this is the teachers' fault.

The transition from kindergarten to first grade has been tricky for Christopher. There is a lot more work, and it is hard. He is so capable, but he gets himself worked up about the smallest things and then cannot function. (On the first day of school he claimed he forgot how to hold a pencil.)

I sometimes consider un-enrolling them. Could I homeschool or unschool? Would that be easier? Probably not. And enrollment is already way down in our district. I don't want to take away the funds they receive for our students. We have good days, but it just sometimes doesn't seem worth it. I want to do what is best for the kids. I know this isn't it. I listen to the kids at recess at the school next door (a private school, which is fully open). I know it is hard for my two to hear the kids having fun with their friends. But the private school is not an option for many reasons, one of them being that it doesn't seem safe. There are just no good choices right now.

Today, however, the kids decided they are going to open a shop to sell bracelets and pictures they took with Clare's Polaroid. (They will be selling these things to me and Ben, and maybe their grandma.) They are having so much fun. They are being creative. They were outside for a long time taking pictures of "beautiful things" they saw on their walk. I think Clare has completed her work. I know Christopher hasn't. And I just don't really care. They are being kids and I am going to let them do this as long as they want. Maybe we'll get Christopher's work done. Maybe not.

Just like with everything these days, we'll keep moving forward. Take things one day at a time. It is all we can do.

End of Summer 2020

The Summer of 2020 certainly was not what we had planned. No visit from Robby, Andri and my adorable nephews. No State Fair. No swimming at public pools, and very few park visits. No sleep-away Girl Scout camp for Clare. No American Ninja Warrior camp. No family vacation to Chicago. No Memorial Day or Labor Day parties with friends. Very little time with friends at all. 

And there was a lot of sadness, at least for me, about the State of the World. I have started doing work to truly become an anti-racist, and that is hard and depressing. The Pandemic doesn't seem like it is going to end any time soon. And through all of this, November looms.    

When I look back through the pictures, however, I see that despite it all, we made this summer fun. We created our own State Fair at my parents' house. We saw farm animals, had a bouncy house in place of the rides, and ate fried food. It was really fun. We had the privilege of swimming in a private pool near my parents' house, where we could comfortably social distance. Clare was able to attend a virtual Girl Scout camp. It was space-themed, and she was able to see the Milky Way and several shooting stars at my parents' house, along with Jupiter and Saturn. Christopher attended a socially distant theater camp, and Clare did a Zoom Minecraft camp.  We couldn't take the vacation we had planned, but we did purchase a pop-up camper. We went on a few camping trips, and have a few more planned for fall. We were still able to spend a few days at a cabin in Hayward with my parents and my sister's family, since they are in our bubble. We had a peaceful time taking walks, canoeing, fishing (not me), hanging out, and just sitting around.  And we even got in a few socially distant get-togethers with friends. So all in all, Summer of 2020 really wasn't so bad. 

A socially-distant birthday party for my friend Sarah. These friends have been a life saver during the pandemic. And before.

We were able to camp with friends at Savannah Portage State Park. It was hot, and the mosquitoes were terrible, but floating in the lake holding a can of beer cures many ills.

Sunset at Savannah Portage

Christopher and his float. The kids did a good job social distancing, and we were outside.

Our camper! The U.S.S. Stargazer. Guess who named it? It is a 1995, but in great shape. 

Eating breakfast in the camper during a brief storm.

Christopher slept right through the thunder.

We set up Clare's reading nook under her bed. She spent the summer finishing the Harry Potter series. She loves it, and has already started reading it again.

Forced outside time at a nature center.

Ice cream at Two Scoops, a delicious (and Black-owned) ice cream shop on Selby in St. Paul.

When Como Town reopened, with many safety precautions in place, I surprised the kids with a visit. 

They didn't have to wait in line for any rides, and didn't come near anyone else. I actually wish it was like this all the time, actually.

We normally get ice cream at Como Town, but that wasn't available so the McDonald's drive thru it was.

We went on a second camping trip to Forestville Mystery Cave State Park. The cave was closed, but it was a nice campground. No bugs! And, now that Christopher is reading we were able to all sit around the campfire with our individual books. It was wonderful.

Ice cream in Evansville.

 

Spoiled me.

"State Fair" fun!

Ben and I take this same selfie at the Fair every year. The beer was still good, even if the setting wasn't quite the same.

We bought frozen Sweet Martha's cookies. They were good.

Christopher is going through a phase were he refuses to let me take his picture. This was at Lake St. Croix. What a wonderful beach! I wish we had found it sooner, but it felt so good on one of summer's hot days.

The Como Zoo also reopened. No crowds. 

There were mini donuts, though.

The kids had fun playing restaurant in the amazing basement of our cabin in Hayward. It was called Fish and Wine. Yum?

Clare trying the paddle board.

Giant musky.

Clare and Meema are being eaten by a fish!

Clare canoeing with her grandparents.

A Brandy old-fashioned by the lake. Truly a Wisconsin moment. All that was missing was head to toe Packer gear.