I am a qualified teacher. I have taught my own child’s grade level. I know that I will NEVER be able to replicate my child’s regular classroom experience in our home, and I’m not trying to do that. Parents-be gentle with yourselves. Kids need to feel safe and loved right now.

You may not be able to help your kid access all of the seemingly endless stream of online work that is posted. That’s okay. Your kid may not be able to get through all the videos and click through all the slideshows and complete all the assignments. It’s okay. Really.

You’re doing the best that you can in a really difficult situation. If your child is safe, loved, fed, and somewhat clean, you’re doing just fine. If your kids are reading books and playing games, even better. Please don’t beat yourself up.

Nobody is expecting perfection... and if they are, please send them my way and I’ll set them straight. We are in the middle of a pandemic here. We are experiencing a collective trauma. Our kids’ and our own health, including mental health, is so precious and worthy of protection.

You are doing enough and YOU ARE ENOUGH, exactly as you are at this moment. Throw those “shoulds” out the window. You’re doing an amazing job keeping yourself alive and keeping small humans alive. Your kids are going to be okay, and you are going to be okay.