How is everyone with back to school? Well, it’s definitely not what we all wanted for our kids…..or our sanity. I have three children in school and two little ones who are three and under; one who is taking speech therapy and the other one follows me around the house like a tail. My eldest is a Sophmore in High School, her runner up is an 8th grader, and my youngest in school is a second grader. They all go to different schools, on completely different levels of learning. My second grader, Landen, actually goes to a charter school where he learns Spanish; this is and has been one of my biggest worries so far. Within a regular school day for Landen, he hears and speaks Spanish 90% of the time. Here at home, no one within the house can fluently speak or understand Spanish, because of this, I worry that he will lose what he has learned so far, the language that is, and going forward, not pick up what he normally would have if he was in school. To top this off, through his virtual learning, the teacher is still speaking Spanish only for the few hours that he has his online class, so I also worry that he isn’t learning what he should be learning academically. My Sophmore, Aaliyah, I am grateful that she is only a Sophmore; there’s some time to see better days before she reaches her Senior year. I feel so bad for those who are Seniors or even a Junior in High School through all of this. High School should be fun and memorable!! Well…..I guess it will definitely be memorable! But with all of that said, I still feel for her. She misses her friends and needs that time away from home….from her siblings and parents, a break from home chaos. The same for her sister, Makaylah, too; I personally feel that school is a safe place for them to escape to, a place where they and their friends can come together and vent, talk, share….. It’s simply just not the same for the kids through virtual learning.

Landen does his virtual learning in the playroom/homemade closet office

Aaliyah has been going back and forth from her bedroom and the Hobbit Closet to do her studies.

Makaylah has been my little floater; she tends to sit here in this little cozy corner, but does bounce from room to room.

I won’t lie-It’s been super rough for me as well. I love all of my kids with ALL of my heart!!!! With that said and in stone, I need my “me” time, even if that me time is with one or two of them at a time, but for that past year or so….it’s been me and five kids-ALL OF THE TIME! Now on top of everyday life, the fighting and bickering, tattling, yelling, personal needs, meals, changing diapers, etc etc….. I have to be a teacher too. That extra burden has been so heavy. I have been feeling like if I mess up, I am going to let everyone down-my family….kids education, this image of being a good mommy. I can’t be the only person feeling like this, I hope that I am not, at least. It’s just been tough all the way around. It’s literally been a Domino Effect on EVERYONE!

Just hang in there students… parents. We have no choice but to get through this; lets try and get through this the best and healthiest way possible!! More back to school updates and check in’s to come!! Stay Pretty guys!!!