March 19, 2021
The world changed dramatically on March 12, 2020. I closed my classroom door, believing it would only be for a long weekend. After picking up my children from preschool, I returned home to a dinner routine that felt normal—until my husband was instructed to work from home indefinitely. My four-year-old daughter, our eleven-year-old stepdaughter, and I were about to navigate education through digital screens.
Surely, this situation couldn’t last too long, right?
Our family spent much of the past year in relative seclusion. We missed traditional celebrations like Easter, Memorial Day, and Fourth of July barbecues. Following a panic attack at an almost empty mini-golf course on Father’s Day, our vacation options dwindled. We opted for Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio—a safer choice with fewer than 45 COVID-related deaths, unlike our home in Berks County, Pennsylvania, where cases soared.
After Thanksgiving, we once again celebrated alone, as new COVID cases averaged between 225-250 daily. As summer faded, our only interactions were with a few close relatives and friends who also prioritized caution.
When school resumed in August, we were fortunate to have options—full virtual or hybrid learning. Both my husband and I were working online. I understand the sentiment that kids need to be back in school, but the reality is more complex.
Anxiety and depression rates among youth have surged, and tragically, suicides are occurring at younger ages. My husband and I take this matter seriously. Our twelve-year-old participates in masked horseback riding lessons outdoors and earned a lead role in her school’s virtual drama club. Ask her about returning to in-person school, and she would likely say it disrupts the comfort zone she and her virtual friends have established.
Conversely, our five-year-old would dash to the school bus in excitement if her district moves to a new in-person schedule. But with her being one of the youngest in her class, it’s a tremendous ask for any teacher to ensure that five- and six-year-olds keep their masks on during lessons or the bus ride.
As her superintendent noted, the school environment will be far from what we envision as “normal.” Kindergarten classrooms, once spaces of creativity and collaboration, are now filled with taped-off dots for children to sit on and sanitized bins of toys that change weekly. Desks are spaced apart with plexiglass barriers, and recess is limited to watching equipment from afar.
Even more concerning is that our daughter will miss a week of instruction while we opt for full virtual learning, as others transition back to the classroom. We’ve been told that her day will remain largely the same, but the reality is different. Many parents, like us, have chosen to keep their children learning from home, unsure of the potential disruptions in the classroom setting.
This is not the educational experience we want our daughter to have.
However, now that my husband and I are vaccinated, we enrolled her in a gymnastics class she has been eager to attend. Some may question our decision, but we believe in weighing the risks and benefits carefully. The gym follows strict COVID protocols—mask-wearing, sanitizing equipment, and limiting attendance to one parent per child. The benefits of social interaction outweigh the minimal risk of exposure, especially as she continues with virtual schooling.
Her first class was impressive, and we remain cautious. We’re not disregarding safety just because we’re vaccinated; numbers are still a concern. We continue practicing social distancing and only allow vaccinated individuals into our home. Our children understand the importance of safety, and we always discuss their comfort with any activities.
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In summary, while we have chosen to enroll our daughter in gymnastics to foster socialization, we have also made the decision to continue her education through virtual learning. This balance allows us to prioritize her well-being and safety during these uncertain times.
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