Making the school choice I never expected to make

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Virtual SchoolHave you seen that meme circulating on social media where Ariel is signing her name to a big scary contract with Ursula? That pretty much sums up how I feel about our back to school decision this year. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

My son will be in first grade this fall, and this isn’t the start to his school career I imagined. He was only in school for about 6 months before the pandemic hit this spring. He barely had a chance to get to know his classmates, to adjust to an all-day schedule, and start to enjoy learning and school before we were done for the year. Though our school eventually sent out packets and online learning options for us to keep up with at home, the motivation and interaction built into his school day were long gone by then. Despite my best efforts to “teach” him, there has been no significant learning time for him since spring break.

What School Looks Like This Year

When surveys went out this summer to parents, I was adamant he attend in person. Based on how at-home learning went for us this spring, I truly believed the only way he would get any education was if he were back in person in the classroom with his teacher and his peers.

When our district released their options in early July, either 100 percent virtual or a two-day hybrid, I was firmly in the hybrid camp. My husband was not. And there were a couple of weeks of intense discussions in our home. But as summer dragged on and COVID-19 cases continued to rise, it was clear things were not going back to normal no matter how much I wanted them to. In-person learning was not the safest choice for our family. So we made the decision I absolutely never expected us to make: 100 percent virtual learning.

Could my kiddo benefit from in-person classroom learning from a teacher? Absolutely. Would he enjoy spending the day with kids who are the same age as him? He sure would. But I also know the classroom interactions among teachers and staff won’t look anything like they did last fall when he started, and that will make learning challenging too.

There are also benefits to learning at home. A more relaxed morning routine, a casual dress code, and a chance for my husband and I to have a hands-on role in watching him learn and develop new skills, which is something I am very much looking forward to. One of the hardest things about sending him to “big kid” school last fall was that I had very little idea what he was learning or doing each day. And he was so exhausted from the day he often didn’t feel up to telling me much about what he was learning.

Though I am disappointed his school years are starting off on such bumpy ground, I am thankful he has years of learning ahead of him, and an opportunity to learn to love it and to build strong relationships with his teachers and his classmates once this pandemic is under control. And despite all the stress and frustration we as parents have faced in trying to navigate this decision, I know in the long run these are years he will barely remember. So, for now, I’m trying to make the best of it, for all of us.

There are no easy decisions for parents or teachers right now and no right or wrong choice.

How are you feeling about your school decision this year? What are you looking forward to about the choice you’ve made?

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Kimberly Isburg
Kimberly is a Northwest Iowa native, a Drake University graduate, and a fan of all things Des Moines. She is a girly girl who grew up and became a boy mom, and is now an expert on all types of construction equipment and big machines. She shares her Des Moines home with hubby Sam (2006) and sons Jack (March 2014) and Henry (December 2016). Kimberly studied magazine journalism in college, spent 10 years working for a newspaper, and recently became a postpartum doula. In her abundant (and almost nonexistent) free time she enjoys writing about mom life, drinking coffee, documenting time with family and friends, starting Shutterfly projects she rarely finishes, doing Crossfit, and daydreaming about future decorating and crafting projects.

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