I’m not a home school parent, but two weeks ago it was demanded of me to figure out how to become one, and fast. I dove into my bag of tricks as a former classroom teacher, mixed it up with my mom-life now, and BAM! Four thoughts rose to the surface. So, if you’re temporarily, or continuously, home schooling as this pandemic rolls through your community, and you’re feeling a little overwhelmed or a bit defeated at the moment, this post is for you.

Tip #1: Anything you can do to show your child you love them during this time of uncertainty is more than enough.

The absence of a school routine will make our children uneasy (us parents too). We all miss the comfort of knowing what’s going to happen each day. Big feelings come and go and while our children are more aware of the tense situations affecting the adults in their lives than we always give them credit, they also need to be allowed to have fun and laugh. Make them giggle, obsessively remind them that you love them, and do your best to enjoy their company (trust me, I know that’s harder to do on some days than others when we’re all stuck indoors together). Find a good balance between letting them know what’s going on and finding the helpers, the joy, and the good in the world that is still all around us. It will help them (and you) to remember that this too shall pass.

Tip #2: If you have any academic priority during this temporary home schooling stint, read. Read. Read. Read. Then (you guessed it) read some more! Any way. Any where and any how. Read magazines, billboards, street signs, food box labels, closed captions on T.V. Just read.

It can be. No, it IS overwhelming to unexpectedly take on the demands that come with home schooling a child at any time, let alone during a global crisis, so give yourself some grace. Do just one thing consistently and then let the rest go. Each family will have different circumstances and different resources, but if you can choose to read with your child daily, it will make such a difference.

Build a routine around books. Make it fun, change it up, and utilize the digital resources you have available. And if you don’t have access to a library of children’s books, sit down with your kid (or take some quiet moments on your own) and write your own stories! Make your own books! They don’t have to be Pulitzer Prize winners, and you can draw stick people for the illustrations. Just get books in your kids hands. Swap home-made books and stories with your kids, and hunker down with your little homemade library and read. Read. Read. Read.

Tip #3: Use this time to invest in your child’s skills in kindness, compassion and generosity.

Have your kids help out around the house to earn money to donate to a local charity. Create thank you cards for people they see in their community who are working hard to support us all during this unique time (grocery clerks, doctors and nurses, mail carriers, etc.). You can even take a photo of the card and send it via email to loved ones and friends around the world. Post a thank you poster in your window. Not only will you be exposing them to more reading and writing, you will be teaching them how to be good humans.

Tip #4: Take care of yourself! Yes… YOU the parent! Every child does best when their parents are less stressed.

That means you need to STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP! Give yourself some grace. You clearly love your child. You are concerned about their well being and their education, and you are doing the best you can with what you have. I guarantee it! Let up on your self criticism (and the criticism of others) and pat yourself on the back. We’ve all be put into a challenging situation. Trust that you have risen to the occasion. It’s just as important to allow ourselves some self-appreciation as it is to allow our children to laugh and have fun.

The world is not the same as it was a few weeks ago, and so our perspectives must also change. Instead of dwelling on what was, or what we don’t have, let’s focus on the opportunities this presents.

And on those days when you just want to throw in the towel, use this mantra: This too shall pass. It’s been said by many, and I have always found it to be true. No matter how bad or how good we have it, we can always trust that change is on the way.

So if you’re exhausted from home schooling – confused, frustrated and worried that you’re dong it all wrong, take a deep breath, pop another chocolate in your mouth (after washing your hands of course), and repeat after me: this too shall pass. I’m doing the best I can with what I have and it will be enough.

You already have everything you need to become a great home school parent overnight. You care about your child. Trust that what you’re doing is enough, even on those days when you think you’ve missed the mark.

You’re doing the best you can with what you have and that is enough.

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