Our oldest shared how #school is "functioning" this year but is missing the important stuff; #hugs, time with #friends, the #teacher getting close to help you, choir and sports. It made me really reflect on what we are all missing in this modified way we are existing. cont...

He teared up while sharing with us, and asked to switch to #distancelearning "if we are just going to be robots at school then what is the point of going? I can get "just" the learning at home or online... I feel like an alien that adults are afraid of and won't come near" cont..

He said that staff don't have answers about simple things (winter coats, boots) and say "we'll deal with it when we get there". But that makes him more #anxious and they likely don't have answers, waiting to be instructed must be very challenging for the adults as well. cont...

He is a very intelligent and thoughtful young person and quite emotionally in tune with himself and others around. He feels lonely, helpless and he's starting to sound hopeless. It is heartbreaking. cont...

I realize we are all getting through this, but it is not without suffering. I/We all need to talk more honestly about the realities and sacrifices and not gloss them over. And we need to get back to being human or begin serious planning for the #posttraumatic fallout of #COVID

I realize that #teachers and staff are all feeling the same way. I'm not assigning any fault - this is all new and not ideal for anyone. We talked him through empathizing but he had already done that work and felt bad for them as well. We need to fix it and quickly. End.