Like many parents, when I learned that my kids wouldn’t be returning to school as usual this year, a whirlwind of emotions hit me — fear, concern, and a strange sense of relief. I felt a surge of motivation to prepare our home, stocking up on essentials like flour, colorful sprinkles, and snacks. My spouse and I were thankful to have our jobs during this uncertain time.
As the school year began, we found ourselves grappling with Google Classroom, navigating online classes, and turning our dining room into a makeshift gym. It quickly became the hub for math lessons, lunch breaks, and my workspace. I stepped into the role of teacher, dodging 9th-grade Algebra, yet realizing I needed to help my son navigate it for his future. After logging him into his class, I transitioned to teaching my twin daughters their kindergarten lessons, and by 9 AM, I was already feeling exhausted. Yet, my day as the program director for a heart health nonprofit was just beginning.
We opted for a hybrid schooling model, with our children attending in-person classes on Mondays and Tuesdays, while I took on the role of their teacher at home for the rest of the week. I never imagined balancing this myriad of responsibilities while constantly feeling like I was in a race against time. Then my son asked when he could get a job and drive our car, prompting me to reclaim their education and teach them in a way that inspired me — outside of traditional learning.
During the pandemic, I took up baking, a skill I had always admired in others. With plenty of time, and concerned about what went into my kids’ food (since I was now basically the cafeteria lady), I started making homemade bread. Following Mark Bittman’s recipe, I bought a Dutch oven and got started. After the first loaf, my kids began requesting fresh bread weekly. This inspired me to teach them culinary skills that weren’t part of their school curriculum.
I had never been the type of parent to allow my kids free reign in the kitchen, but the pandemic changed that. My five-year-old daughters loved measuring flour and mixing ingredients, and their eager anticipation while waiting for the bread to bake filled me with joy. They couldn’t learn these skills at school, but we could explore them together at home.
At one point, I found myself overwhelmed and decided to take a “time out.” I told my kids I needed a break, went to my room, and had a mini-meltdown. After regaining my composure, I returned to explain my feelings to them. This experience became an important lesson in emotional awareness and the idea that it’s okay not to be okay — something they wouldn’t have learned in a traditional classroom setting.
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) emphasizes the importance of supporting children’s social and emotional development during challenging times. We prioritize conversations about feelings and maintaining routines in our home.
As the pandemic progressed, our family routines evolved, incorporating more chores and responsibilities for the kids. Though met with resistance, they began to understand the importance of helping out around the house, especially when faced with the reality of a messy environment.
My teenage son, known for keeping his room “clean” only when the door is shut, is still learning about personal responsibility. He has taken on outdoor projects, including painting the fence and yard work, which we paid him for — a lesson in work ethics and savings that led him to open a bank account. We also encouraged him to practice cursive writing, a skill no longer taught in schools.
As we continue to teach our children valuable life skills beyond what they learn in school — from setting the dinner table to handling household emergencies — we’ve also embraced gardening. This summer, we planted tomatoes and peppers, learning about resilience and the process of starting over. I’ve learned that hiring professionals for yard work is often more efficient than trying to manage it as a family. However, I’m already brainstorming new lessons for my kids outside of traditional schooling.
One of the silver linings of this experience has been seeing how much time my children spent outside. They’ve engaged with our elderly neighbor, explored nature, and tapped into their creativity through imaginative play.
Though life may never return to the normal we once knew, the lessons my children are absorbing during this time will stay with them forever.
For more insights on parenting and education, check out this helpful blog post and learn about expert advice on fertility and home insemination. Additionally, for excellent resources on pregnancy, don’t miss this podcast on IVF and fertility preservation.
Search Queries:
- Home economics lessons for kids
- Teaching kids life skills at home
- Cooking activities for children
- Balancing work and homeschooling
- Emotional learning during the pandemic
Summary:
This article reflects on the unexpected lessons learned at home during the pandemic, focusing on life skills that children are acquiring outside of a traditional classroom setting. From baking bread to gardening, parents are finding creative ways to engage their kids in meaningful learning experiences, while also emphasizing the importance of emotional awareness and responsibility.