Sarah Tyler

Our school district is once again giving us the option to choose between in person and remote learning.  This time when we consider all the variables we feel in person is best choice for our family.  It's ironic, I feel reasonably confident about this decision just as I was back in November when we made the opposite choice.  Both were the right choice (or perhaps more accurately least wrong choice) at the time.  Yet both times I developed a seemingly never ending stress headache from all the anxiety.  

Our kids are too young to be vaccinated and delta is hitting kids harder than the original alpha strain. I read a stat recently that more kids are on ventilators now than during the winter. It’s still low odds, but not zero. I worry about the possible waning immunity for Domingo and I. I worry about the logistics of returning to in person school. The schools are going to send kids home with the slightest signs of sniffles (which they should) but that’s going to mean a lot of home days and running back and forth to pick up kids. I also worry that with the increase in cases the school will shut down again and we'll be right back to where we started.

On the other hand, if we choose remote again we're in for another full school year without socialization, even though vaccinations for young kids are coming in just a few months. It's another full year where Alexis' teacher can't help her work on her pencil grip, or writing her letters the right away. Another full year where science becomes mostly video watching and not hands on for Nicole. Another full year of fighting internet connection issues and computer problems. Another full year of constant stress and frustrations and feeling not good enough.

Parenting during a pandemic sucks, y'all.  Sending love to anyone else whose struggling out there, parent or no.

42 Minutes. That's the time difference between when the registration packet for summer camp was emailed out and when I submitted the completed packet. I would have had it in in half that if the dang scanner was working properly 😒.

We are over anxious and ready to return to a semi-normal.

My stress headache got so bad last night I needed to go to bed at 7:30pm, before Nicole. I really needed the rest, but now I’m even further behind.

330 days sheltering in place down, 116 days left until the end of remote learning.

On the 305th day of quarantine my children gave to me... a laptop dropped on the hardwood floor.

Happy 🥳 Vaccinations are Starting Today 🥳 Day!

How I’m dealing with my pandemic stress: Welcome to the family, Christmas trees number 6, 7 & 8!

"This looks like a good meal!" - A surprised Alexis sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner.

The day went surprisingly smooth despite having fewer hands in the kitchen this year. Dana declared Thanksgiving her favorite holiday (the current holiday is always her favorite holiday) and loved the cranberry sauce. Nicole and Alexis loved the pumpkin pie. All three enjoyed the movies I picked out for our movie marathon.
I'm sad we couldn't spend the day with more people, but every day that passes brings us one day closer to the vaccine and a return to normal life.

“Remote learning is not hard enough. What we need is to lose the internet at 4 past the hour, every hour.”
- said no one, ever

I am 100% channeling my anxieties into online shopping. Plus side: Domingo's salsa came back in stock and I bought the last one. The kids' soup also came back in stock, but I wasn't fast enough on the draw.

After 115 days sheltering in place (and lots of debating, stress and anxiety over the decision) today is Nicole and Alexis' first day of summer camp.
Dana is still staying home for now and had the following response to Domingo's question.
Domingo: What are you going to do while sisters are at school?
Dana: Play with Alexis toys!