This Is Tough But So Are You
This is a picture of Lily today as she waited for the parade of her teachers to come and bid her farewell for this school year. Mommy and I stood halfway up the driveway and Lily's teachers stood close to the road, carefully spaced 6 feet apart. Lily went back and forth, giving and receiving gifts presented at arms length, the last being a rock she had lovingly culled from the yard for her favorite teacher.
Part of my heart ached to see how quickly she learned to carry off wearing that mask, how she accepted, without question, being at arms length from the teachers she would have hugged just a few months ago. But another part of my heart was incredibly warmed at how we have all joined together in order to rise to this occasion.
Lily can still go to story/craft time at the local library via YouTube (craft supplies can be picked up in a bin outside the library) and attend music circle with the local music school via Facebook. She Zooms live with one of her teachers twice a week and watches daily videos posted by another.
Last Friday close family gathered in my sons backyard for a double graduation: My grandson's from 6th grade and his sister's from kindergarten. In both cases, students were asked to record segments that could be compiled into a presentation and live-streamed along with faculty commencement speeches. My son and his wife hauled the Big Screen TV outside and my grandson (yes, the 12-year-old) hooked up the computer so we could watch.
A friend of mine held her daughters prom at their home. She decked out her house in elaborate decorations and twinkling lights, accompanied by a delightful buffet. Her daughter wore her prom dress while family members (adults and littles alike) dressed in their best finery to dance the night away.
Across the country there have been teacher parades, drive-through graduations (one including a lake, a boat and graduate drive-bys on wave runners) and virtual teacher-to-student meets.
I have seen videos of exercise instructors on rooftops while those in surrounding buildings participated from their balconies and neighborhood singalongs from open windows. I've seen restaurants leave bagged lunches on their stoops for those who are feeling food insecure, dairy farmers passing out free milk that would have otherwise been dumped and one gentleman who stood at a busy intersection, encouraging those who had "more than enough" toilet paper to give up a few rolls for those who had none (which was a resounding success).
We have shown, once more, that no matter what gets thrown at us, we have the ability to pull together, to stand arm-in-arm and prove to the darkness that we will not be defeated. Good try but you lose. Again.
All my best,
Cynthia
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Cynthia,
Thanks for sharing this moment between your daughter Lily and her teachers. While reading this CNN is covering the situation when schools reopen this fall. Like how physical distancing will be organized especially on the playing field.
I think the kids get it and will respond thoughtfully.
All the best to you.
Edwin
She is actually my granddaughter but I nanny her while her mom and dad work.
Sending the children back to school is going to take some intense planning and there's no way to tell if it will be successful. Lily's parents have decided not to send her back to preschool in the fall for that very reason.
I'm grateful to her teachers for helping me to step into the roll of educating her in these first basic skills so that I can continue in that role for the next year.
All my best to you as well, Edwin. Stay safe!
Cynthia,
A wonderful, heartfelt post!
Thank you for sharing.
In my experience, children are resilient and very adaptive.
Our role is to support them and ensure that if or when they encounter difficulty, we are there to root for them and move them along their journey.
This may well become their future normal.
Who knows?
Be safe and well.
Cassi
Thank you for your (very true) comments. All we can do is the best we can, right? I choose to dwell on the positive!
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We could learn from our children and the heart so pure and strong. This is heartwarming and inspiring. Our children must be protected from this scourge and the negativities of so many adults. parental guidance with school guidance counselors must be activated and implemented simultaneously. Excellent, Cynthia!
The raising of our young ones is the most important job we will ever do. Thank you for your positive encouragement!
That is true and so great to hear! Welcome!