Supporting Community With Compassion and Grace
Mission Statement: To create a place of learning, love, and compassion for the children of the community in this difficult time
Given the current situation around the world due to Covid-19, many things in our day to day lives have changed. Because of this, through a careful analysis of those I am in direct contact with regularly, I came up with an idea to not only help the youth around me, but keep them engaged in learning and loving this new "normal", but all at a safe social distance.
Being a mother, student, employee, and "bonus mother" to several neighborhood teens brought extra challenges with the start of the shelter in place order. Not only were all classes for myself moved to an online format, the middle school students I am surrounded by also switched to this format. Because of varying levels of parental involvement for these children, my oldest child and I decided to make our home an open space for all the others to come participate in daily activities, get homework assistance when needed, and to collectively learn about ways to deal with the stresses of the new normal we were all struggling to grasp.
In order for us to all do this successfully together, we had to do some online research, some brainstorming sessions, and eventually put a plan into place that we thought would accommodate us all.
Being a mother, student, employee, and "bonus mother" to several neighborhood teens brought extra challenges with the start of the shelter in place order. Not only were all classes for myself moved to an online format, the middle school students I am surrounded by also switched to this format. Because of varying levels of parental involvement for these children, my oldest child and I decided to make our home an open space for all the others to come participate in daily activities, get homework assistance when needed, and to collectively learn about ways to deal with the stresses of the new normal we were all struggling to grasp.
In order for us to all do this successfully together, we had to do some online research, some brainstorming sessions, and eventually put a plan into place that we thought would accommodate us all.
Step One: Finding Resources
The internet is always rich with helpful information when one knows how to search for what is needed. I asked the teens to start looking up ideas for day to day schedules that might work with their personal class schedules. I also began to search for alternatives through contact with the middle school, mom groups, and various parenting blogs. Because our home has children ranging from near 2 years to 14 years the schedule would have to be flexible.
After a few days of searching and discussing, the middle school students decided that the grade level recommendations found in the slideshow below was the best representation of what would be "doable" for them. We then decided that each day of the week, they would take 3 hours, spread across the day, to work on assignments individually. Twice a week (or more, if needed) we hosted study group sessions here.
For the younger children, the idea of having scheduled study time did not seem a good one. Collectively we then began the same process over to see what we could plan for the smaller kids.
After a few days of searching and discussing, the middle school students decided that the grade level recommendations found in the slideshow below was the best representation of what would be "doable" for them. We then decided that each day of the week, they would take 3 hours, spread across the day, to work on assignments individually. Twice a week (or more, if needed) we hosted study group sessions here.
For the younger children, the idea of having scheduled study time did not seem a good one. Collectively we then began the same process over to see what we could plan for the smaller kids.
Step two: Making it our own
Once we had our tentative plans in place, it was time to put it into action. As stated in the "Walk Out Walk On" reading for this course, we decided to start somewhere and let it take us anywhere. We now had an idea of a schedule for the children, but our home needed one as well that would accommodate my course and work schedule. We created the following tentative agenda to see what we could do with our day to day time.
Step Three: Letting it take us anywhere
Shortly after beginning our new "normal," one of the middle school girls expressed to me that she was having issues feeling emotionally overwhelmed. She also pointed out that when we created our action plan, we neglected any kind of emotional or physical activities to, "keep us sane" (her words). Having a personal history with anxiety and depression, I knew we needed to address this aspect of our whole beings before the stress became too much for any of the other kids.
We started a "Activity Jar" that held strips of paper with ideas of things we could do together at least once a week. These activities included everything from finger painting parties to 5k trail runs. Some of our most favorite things so far have been: bubble chasing, tree hugging, outdoor scavenger hunts, nature bingo, trail walking, follow the baby yoga, painting parties, and a craft day.
We started a "Activity Jar" that held strips of paper with ideas of things we could do together at least once a week. These activities included everything from finger painting parties to 5k trail runs. Some of our most favorite things so far have been: bubble chasing, tree hugging, outdoor scavenger hunts, nature bingo, trail walking, follow the baby yoga, painting parties, and a craft day.
Step Four: Following freely
The overall process of this project has brought us all closer together, not only as a family, but as a community as well. We have had conversations about how to identify emotions we might be feeling, how to make a meal plan for the week, and even about which way really is the best way to eat a cupcake--all things that I am sure are important life lessons. I am pleased that I was able to share in this distance learning and bond building time with each of these children (mine and the others).
By continuing to allow these teens a space to speak freely, feel validated and heard, and express themselves, I believe that I am helping a portion of this population to become better people and better prepared for the world post social distancing and self isolation.
By continuing to allow these teens a space to speak freely, feel validated and heard, and express themselves, I believe that I am helping a portion of this population to become better people and better prepared for the world post social distancing and self isolation.
Step Five: Where We Go From Here
As this course comes to a close and the Covid-19 restrictions are beginning to be lifted around the country, the kids have started to ask what this will mean for the time we spend together. I have made them all a promise that we will continue to do something from the jar once a week as time allows. We will also continue to check in with each other regularly as the summer moves forward. My home has became a safe space of learning and love for these children and I want it to continue to be so even if the world is trying to get us back to normal.
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