Meet Your Quarantine #ParentGoals

HEY YOU! So happy you clicked to read. I so need to tell you something girlfriend/boyfriend. We are all pressed for time during this time of the unexpected quarantine. I’ll keep this short, sweet, introduce to me, your quarantine #parentgoals (not literally)!

Today is…

That’s right, I know the days of the week. I never thought Sunday was Friday or Wednesday was Monday. Sike, even as a planner I was getting every day wrong. Quarantine times call for creative measures. Days of the week shirts on deck to save my mental state.

HOMESCHOOLING on lock!

I am a teacher and I’m crushing this homeschooling thing. My kids each have a Google Classroom with at least 6 different classes within the account: Classroom teacher, SPED teacher, administration, Mandarin, counselor, Young Audiences, and P.E. I can handle that. Each class has about 400 websites with different credentials. I even made a printable with all their credentials and a bucket with materials.  You can handle that right? We had a schedule that mirrored their daily schedule at school. Let me not forget the numerous amounts of Zoom calls. And don’t get me started on the related services both my kids receive from OT, ABA, and SPEECH. STOP, COLLABORATE, and LISTEN…….. the truth is I’m doing my best most days, others days I say oh well today is canceled. We started off so strong and even as a teacher I am consistently failing and struggling. Why? So happy you asked. I forgot to mention that I work for a Virtual School and distance learning wasn’t a shock to me. The truth girlfriend/boyfriend is I work FULL TIME and do not have the capacity to give my children and my job 100% of my energy.

U-N-S-U-S-T-A-I-N-A-B-L-E!

The schedule is gone, completion of all assigned assignments is NOT happening, Zoom calls are canceled, but P.E. is on and popping. Home is safe, home is where they decompress, home isn’t filled with friends, home isn’t the lunchroom, home isn’t school no matter how much I try. Home is home, school is school. PERIOD! In this household, learning is happening naturally with lots of outside time and life skills like shoe tying. Shhh… here’s a secret, most of the curriculum was finished. Many schools were transitioning to testing/end of the school year mode. Be easy on yourself in your new career as an educator.

I’m the lunch lady serving the rainbow.

My kids wake up to a hot breakfast with freshly squeezed orange juice and vitamins next to their plates.  We have AM/PM snack which usually is fruit with water. Then comes lunch that resembles the rainbow and dinner resembles. Every meal we sit together as a family and talk about our day while the kids clean their plates.  PA-LEASE, does this happen? Sometimes, but most days they are screaming my dang name, asking for a snack 33 times in a minute, and they think I’m a short-order cook. As far as meals, I’m sure they are tired of eating the same things over and over. My go-to have been charcuterie boards (breakfast, burgers, fruits, hotdogs), but they are eating.  This only tricks them into eating more than what would be presented on their plates.

 

 

I follow screen time rules

My little precious angels wake up, have breakfast, then we get into Circle time with Mrs. Monica Sutton on YouTube (if you don’t know about her, YA missing out boo). You would think we would transition into schoolwork and have all these engaging, educational activities. Yes, through unlimited screen time. I had so much guilt in the beginning then it made sense to worry more about my kids’ mental health than the amount of screen time I was allowing them to have. Some mornings my youngest wakes up at 4:30 am ready to climb Mt. Everest. Umm, excuse me, sir. I happily give him his play phone or iPad and let him go to town on games and videos (parental controls activated). No guilt because this is me putting on my oxygen mask first. So like Glennon Doyle stated, “Let them watch that 8-hour long episode!”

I’m a positive parent

Rise and shine kids with a smile after a good night’s rest (that took me reading 15 books, the Moshi app, shadow animals). Every morning we wake up to music specifically Carrie Underwood’s Champion. We dance, we play, I cook with a smile, they eat, they fight………. hit the brakes. They sometimes are defiant, and I smile through it all. Inside I’m a raging bull and upset cause there is marker on my wall, my iPad screen is shattered, I’m trying to finish my Zoom meeting and one of them is climbing on my head… NAKED.  No, every day, every time I’m my best self as a parent, but I try. Sometimes I want to hide in the closet and have a TWIX and COKE moment. Last reminder, just BE, be with your family and enjoy this much needed time to slow down and live in the moment creating memories.

Am I your quarantine #PARENTGOALS?

Because you are my quarantine #parentgoals. I wrote this post to remind you to give yourself grace. Remember, no one is posting the tantrums, bad hair days, frustrations, wasted food, or shattered iPad screens on social media so STOP comparing their happy times to your bad day. We are all trying our best (how many times have you heard this..it’s TRUE). No one is winning an award for the best quarantine parent so take it easy on yourself. We are all different and all attempting to keep these tiny humans alive. Don’t forget about YOU!  I am no expert on how to win this quarantine, I am just making sure my family’s mental health is intact while being present. Cheers to you, I raise my glass/cup, Costco vodka pop to you. You are my quarantine parent goals.  Embrace Grace!!!

Nette Archangel
Originally from the village of Loreauville, Nette along with her wife, Jasmine and their two sons, Thomas and Lane moved to their favorite city after residing in Ruston, LA. . She is an education administrator who loves living in NOLA. When not running after the brodudes, you can find her organizing, planning, and jamming to Carrie Underwood. Already busy with supporting education and family, she finds time to be involved with the LGBT Community by serving as an administrator for NOLA GAY FAMILIES. Her goal in life is to acquire Carrie Underwood legs and to eat an entire salad one day (she's super picky eater)! Follow her on IG: @[email protected]

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