I think I can speak for many when I say that juggling homeschooling with working from home is taking a toll on my sanity. It sounds dramatic, but it’s true. My partner, Sam, and I have devised a sort of team strategy to manage the chaos. I’m stuck trying to engage our 14-year-old, Max, who believes that waking up before 10 AM should be illegal and considers homework to be an absurdity. Meanwhile, Sam tackles our two daughters, age 11 and 6, who are unpredictable and often act like frenemies.
The struggle is real: three kids, two working parents. You can imagine the ruckus. We were aware of our numbers before the pandemic, especially during family outings. But with homeschooling, the disparity in our roles has become glaringly obvious.
Enter Grandma. Well, she doesn’t physically enter, as she resides in Idaho while we’re in Oregon. She had planned a visit last month but wisely chose to stay put due to COVID-19. However, distance hasn’t hindered her from pitching in. Every afternoon, when Max and our middle daughter, Zoe, are deep into their work, our youngest, Lily, finishes her school day shortly after lunch.
Now, let me express my love for Lily; she is a spirited child, full of curiosity and a penchant for mischief. As soon as her older siblings begin to tire of their assignments, Lily starts to wander, creating distractions like a one-kid circus act. We try everything—screen time, toys, crafts—but nothing holds her attention. That’s when Grandma enters our lives via FaceTime for story time.
Let me tell you, the days when she’s unavailable are absolute chaos. This brief hour of reading stories with Lily is a lifesaver. Grandma simply calls us on her iPad, and it’s a big deal for Lily. She gives Grandma a grand tour of the house, revealing every hidden mess, and then picks out a couple of familiar stories from her shelf. Spoiler alert: it’s almost always “Pete the Cat’s Big Lunch” on repeat.
The routine usually goes like this: Lily sets up the iPad, and while Grandma sometimes brings a book of her own, often it’s Lily who chooses. Occasionally, Grandma gets frustrated when Lily holds the book too far from the screen, but generally, it keeps her entertained long enough for us to wrap up schoolwork with the older kids, who are always looking for the earliest out.
Lily looks forward to these calls as if they were a trip to Disneyland, and I can only hope Grandma enjoys it too. It’s a small commitment that makes a considerable difference, and it’s a huge blessing during these trying times. With all that’s happening, when I’m trapped inside with three kids, trying to balance teaching with my job, I often wonder if the world is ending.
To all the grandparents stepping up to help with the craziness of homeschooling remotely, thank you. As a parent struggling to keep it together, I can confidently say you’re preventing us from losing our minds. Your grandchildren will remember these moments, and your kids are forever grateful.
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In summary, the ongoing pandemic has brought challenges to families, particularly in managing homeschooling. Grandparents have stepped up through technology, offering invaluable support that keeps the household running smoothly. Their contributions are essential, and they are deeply appreciated by parents everywhere.