Lenten Reflections #23
They are home.
Elementary school kids are home with their parents learning to tie their shoes, tell time, count money. Tweens are spared from what can be tumultuous middle school moments, and high school students are navigating Chemistry labs, Rhetorical Analysis, and document-based questions (DBQ’s). All at home.
DIFFERENCES
I called to check in on my students and their families today.
The gamut ran from,
“We’re doing well. He just finished working on sequencing and now I’m teaching him how to tell time from an analog clock.”
TO
“I haven’t heard from my social worker, I don’t know how I’m going to feed my two children, my parents are quarantined and I have to have surgery on Thursday.”
My gosh. Just when I started to grumble about making dinner, I thought of the families who have nothing…NOTHING to bring to the table.
Note: I was able to contact our administrators and they connected the family with MUST Ministry who would help provide meals for the family.
This was true testimony that while some grapple with studying, some are trying to survive. As parents we simply want our kids to be happy, learn and sidestep struggle. We want to do our best…and make them their best selves.
LET THEM LEARN HOW TO LEARN…
Just today, I felt like a rock star when I was able to help my youngest son with his 8th-grade Algebra, yet completely useless when my daughter was working on her Physics lab. One child asks for help, another tackles the work until every eraser in our home is worn.
My son who is a Sophomore incorporates breaks into his studies. Every 30 minutes or so he rides his bike, walks the dogs or works on projects in the garage. His brother shoots baskets outside or plays fetch with the dogs. A stark difference from a 6-minute transition between one-hour and 45-minute classes.
My daughter stays the course, she should wear a t-shirt with Einstein’s words: “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”
They each know how they learn best. They have to know.
As they made their lunches today I asked them to pray for those who are hungry or sick or lonely…and Seniors everywhere who are longing for the proper graduation they deserve, but may have to sacrifice for the betterment of all.
The majority of kids truly miss school. They long for their friends, the guarantee of meals, the routine.
After prayers tonight I reminded them to count their blessings.
As we all should.
Be smart. Be kind.
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