Virtual School Check-in: First Few Weeks In

The new school year has begun and parents are hard at work trying to get things done professionally while serving as teacher’s aide, IT tech, lunch lady, and custodian. The first days of the new school year in my household have been hectic. I knew that it was going to be difficult, but I had no idea that it was going to be this crazy.

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For what it’s worth, our kid’s school district is trying very hard to introduce new material while understanding that students may need to adjust to once again learning while at home. Common issues thus far has stemmed largely from Google Meet, which needs to step it up in technology. Meeting links not working correctly, dropped calls, and issues with sharing documents top the list of problems this week.

It got to the point where I had to stop working to help my students, which meant I had a long workday (thank you flex time). I caught two of kids playing together while their teachers were trying to teach their lesson for the afternoon. Which meant I couldn’t stay in my own work area, I needed to sit with them to ensure everyone remained on task.

To be honest, I have never been more happy to see Friday come in my entire life. 

But I have to believe that it is going to get better. Change is tough, but necessary. And we may have a while to get through this. At a Senate hearing on the government’s response to the pandemic, CDC Director Robert Redfield said that the vaccine for the coronavirus will not be available to everyone till the middle of next year. Which means this school year will include quite a bit of virtual learning.

Workin’ Mamas how are you doing with virtual learning? What strategies have you put in place to stay sane? Comment below!

Virtual School Check-In: Preparation Time

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Due to COVID-19, many school districts are opting to have their students attend school via Distance Learning.  The new changes mean that parents have to consider their schedules and how best to ensure their child is learning while at home. 

The whole idea of the kids participating in virtual learning, while I am working at home is a bit scary, finger biting, and flat-out frightening. We’ve done our best to keep the communication lines open with the kids so that they don’t feel overwhelmed by the changes during this current pandemic. I can’t wait for the days that we all can get back to normal.

and here we are, a whole new school year in the covid-19 landscape

Proper planning prevents poor performance, so our family prepared for the school year by establishing a few boundaries in our home.

Make Sure Everyone on the Same Page

No matter what you call it – Virtual School, Remote School, or Distance Learning, school is school, and that means you have to knuckle down and get the work done. It’s crucial for everyone in the family to be on the same page when it comes to your expectations of attending an online school.

Set up a Distraction-Free Learning Space

In our small house, that may be a bit difficult.  So, we’ve chosen to separate the kids into three rooms where they will do their work.  We will use the living room for breaks to keep our student’s learning space in an area free of distractions. We’ve also purchased lap desks with side pockets so that the kids can be comfortable and organized. There are tons of ideas to create the best homeschool for your space on Pinterest. 

Learn Technology!

Each school district is utilizing different online platforms (i.e. Edumodo, Canvas, Docebo, etc.) to educate kids. Last school year, our children used Google Classroom. We found a quick tutorial on how to use the platform, which was very helpful to ensure all of the schoolwork was being turned in, resubmit schoolwork when necessary, and how to access Google Meet. There are lots of cools things that students can do in Google Classroom and these other platforms, so check out tutorials on YouTube to get better prepared for the school year. 

Organization is Essential

To keep our family organized, we’ve purchased a wall calendar and a family planner. Once you have received more feedback from your child’s school, be sure to set an ideal school day schedule and rules. To ensure our children don’t forget about their class times, we’ve set up reminders using Google Calendar.

Ask the Questions – No Matter How Big or Small

The first week of school will be a major adjustment for your family. Links may not work, internet connections can go crazy, and your child will get distracted as they discover again how to learn from home. If you have questions that are not addressed on the website or via orientiations provided by your school, feel free to reach out to your student’s teacher when he or she reaches out at the beginning of the school year.

Hit the Back to School Sales!

Go shopping for school supplies. Just like students who attend brick-and-mortar schools, virtual school students will need pencils, markers, notebooks, etc. And don’t forget to purchase some new school clothes too! It’s important to try to make this situation as normal as possible.

This school year will be interesting and we will get through it together!

Achieving Work Life Balance in a COVID-19 World

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Times have changed. For years, I sought more flexibility in my professional career. Before COVID-19 happened, most employers were against the working from home revolution. Excuses given included that it didn’t work, that people needed to be together working as a team, and that they thought most people were home eating bon-bons and watching tv instead of working. 

It’s interesting to see how a global pandemic changes things.

According to a Gallup article, in mid-April, more than 62% of the workforce are working remotely. Thanks to VPN and Microsoft SharePoint, everyone can access their files and work efficiently. Meetings are being held via Microsoft Teams or Zoom, and everyone is learning how to be more collaborative in their work habits.  People have organized their work areas and relish the idea that they can work in peace and quiet without being interrupted by their co-workers during the day. For the most part, things are moving smoothly as they can.

Unless you’re a parent.

Working at home while the kids are virtual learning at home as it’s own challenges. From the time my little ones get up until the time they go to bed, they are a handful. I have found a few ways that help me successfully work remotely while the kids are at home.

Organization is Key

Don’t get me wrong. This is not the time to be a Drill Sargeant (at least not in my house). For the summer, I assign my kids three tasks to get done during the day. Each child has to complete an academic activity; whether that’s using an educational app, working on a few pages in the summer packet from the school, or reading a book. I add in a chore that’s age-appropriate and a task that doesn’t require using electronics for good measure. In addition, our family has chosen to learn American Sign Language (ASL) together, courtesy of Dr. Bill Vicars. We need to practice the language every day, so I always try to find a creative and fun way to get it all in.

Take Breaks

Here’s where I falter in my plans. Often I find myself sitting in front of the computer for hours at a time. I always plan to get up and walk away from the computer and next thing I know I am literally working through lunch. I’m not alone, I noticed that my colleagues are doing the same thing. And when we do take a break, it usually involves stressing out our eyes by searching the Internet. Instead of sitting in the front of the computer, get up and take a walk around the neighborhood, water the garden, or read a book. You’ll find that it adds positivity to your day.

Build in Play Time

“Mommy, are you done working yet?” It’s a common question that I get during the day. And it’s a question that I ignored because I was so focused on getting all of my work done, especially when I had a an impending due date. However, I learned I was doing the same thing that I was doing when I worked outside the home. It’s a great feeling to be super productive at work, but it’s also wonderful to have work-life balance where you pour the same amount of effort into family time. I take advantage of lunch time or start earlier a few days in the week so that I can step away and play a game or read a book with my kids.

It isn’t perfect, but these suggestions are definitely a step in the right direction towards a healthy work-life balance. I’d love to hear how you are establishing a work-life balance in your homes! Share your feedback below!

It’s Time for Real Paid Parental Leave

Returning to work after maternity or paternity leave can be extremely emotional. I can remember dropping off my eldest at my Mother-in-Law’s house on my first day back to work. I packed everything and more into the diaper bag and took extra breast milk – just in case there were accidents. As my little one was getting settled, I lingered in the foyer, trying to think of all of the reasons to stay at home and instead was reminded of all of the reasons that I had to return to work.

Knowing I was going to be late, I kissed my little one goodbye and cried all the way to work. Deep inside I knew I wasn’t ready to return to my place of employment.

REALITY SETS IN

It’s not rocket science. Most people know that six weeks is not long enough for paid parental leave. Whether you are adopting or taking care of a newborn, parents need more time to adjust to a new person in the home. Those who are caring for a newborn know that recovery from giving birth – even a normal birth – can take as long as six weeks. (Let’s not discuss the gory details of the dreaded “Fourth Trimester.”

While health benefits top the list of staying at home longer than six weeks, it can be pretty tough to deal with financially. There are companies that offer family leave programs, but employees have to file for “short-term disability” after using all of their paid time off. There has to be a medical reason for someone to extend their benefits. If you have been medically cleared to return to work, but want to stay at home any longer than the six weeks, then you can apply for the Family and Medical Leave Act- and stay home UNPAID for up to 12 weeks. That means whether they are ready or not, many parents return to work so that they can feed their families.

There are some states that are seeking to help out families by developing or expanding their parental leave programs. States like New Jersey are expanding their family leave program. The updated bill increases how much money you’ll receive during your time off and how long you can collect benefits. Those expansions will take effect July 1, 2020. Other changes to the program include which family members can qualify as caregivers and whether your employer has to have a job waiting for you when you return to work. Those benefits will roll out sooner.

Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, took a 16-week paternity leave when he and wife Serena Williams had their beautiful daughter Olympia. His time at home allowed him to establish a bond and help his wife who experienced troubles post-birth. The experience has spurred Alexis to launch a two-pronged Dove Men+Care initiative to champion paternity leave.

In a Washington Post article, Alexis discusses the initiative, which includes a $1 million fund for fathers with no access to paid leave through their employers. Employees who only get unpaid leave, freelancers and self-employed men are encouraged to apply for a $5,000 grant. The other initiative is a “Pledge for Paternity Leave,” asking men to commit to taking their full leave and share their experience. It asks business leaders to pledge to enact paid paternity leave policies.

It’s time for the US to step up to the plate and offer realistic and helpful family leave for growing families. Hopefully the efforts that states and companies will make a difference in addressing the stigma and helping families bond with their children.

Equal Work Doesn’t Mean Equal Pay

It’s a proven fact that women comprise half the workplace. And it’s even more documented that women make less than men, even if they occupy the same position.

Over and over again, these reports can be seen and yet no one seems to want to rectify the issue. Instead of coughing up the dough to make equal work mean equal pay, companies are creating better flex-time and working from programs that will assist working mothers and there are even some companies that offer reimbursement for adoptions.

As someone who takes advantage of these programs at my own place of employment, I have to admit that while I am thankful to have the opportunity to work from home if needed, I would rather have the money. Don’t’ get me wrong, I enjoy my job, but I still have to do my part to take care of my family.

I think what bothers me the most is that companies fail to realize is that gender roles in this country are changing. They have yet to understand is that there are some women who are the breadwinners of the home and rely on their paycheck to handle the majority of the bills.

There are companies that offer mentoring programs for women to help them further advance in the company, but what is the point of these types of programs when the women will not make as much as men in the position.