![]() If I could arrange an alternative, then it felt like I should. It felt like I wasn’t doing my best to protect her. I think that the tipping point for me is that my kid’s teacher’s children are not going back. Our transmission rate continues to be really high. Iowa is the only state that does not currently have any mask requirements for the public or the school, and the governor is mandating in-person school. My kids have extra challenges, but they are extra awesome and have a terrific and unique way of looking at the world. Being schooled with kids with disabilities has been shown to benefit everyone. Frankly, pods are missing out by not including my kids. My kids aren't aware it was even an option, so they don't have any feelings on it. Sad for my kids, relieved I am not in charge of anyone else's kids, resigned to the crappiest school year ever. I floated the idea to a few parents and got noncommittal answers. I worry that they wouldn't know how to deal with my children-particularly my son with ADHD and sensory processing issues, and would just write him off as a bad kid (compounded by the fact that he is a Black boy, and society wants to write them off as bad kids, anyway). I do worry about not only my number of kids, but their needs and being a "burden" on another family who isn't used to dealing with their unique needs. It was a huge failure in the spring, particularly for my child with a learning disability. But due to rising numbers in our city, our only option is online for now. Our district initially proposed a hybrid model, which we planned to use. No matter the type of pod, you should stay enrolled in your local public school so your district doesn’t miss out on future funding.įor our three children in public school, all have needed some type of accommodation, ranging from use of a sensory room, school-based mental health services, speech therapy, Title 1 reading support, and social support group "lunch buddies." They are bright, wonderful kids, but they had a rough start (all are adopted) and are working to overcome some challenges. Others are opting for market pods, which typically means parents getting together to pay someone to watch their kids so they can work or to hire a tutor or private teacher. Some are participating in so-called non-market pods, which are basically quarantined playgroups. I spoke to many parents about whether they’re podding and, if they are, what kind of pod they’re forming. She agreed to supervise my kindergartener’s remote learning when my school district announced that it would be all online through at least early 2021. In June, we hired a nanny to supervise our nanny share. In April, we approached another family with two small children and agreed to swap childcare. After my childrens’ daycare shut down in March, I worked full-time from home for two months, tag-teaming with my husband, who is an essential worker. Earlier this year, that was the choice I found myself facing.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |