A COVID KINDERGARTEN

  CHAPTER 4 BETTER BEGINNINGS, SMILES AND RESULTS The week (our 3 rd ) began as usual but the first morning I made myself absent from the announcements routine. I was nearby but not visible to our son, who was on his computer and waiting for the session to begin. When it came time to stand for the pledge he called out, “DAD! It’s time for the pledge! Where are you!” I was bemused by it, his sincerity and urgent plea for my attendance. The announcements continued, the class muted full-time now. There will be no time or room for distractions and disorder. Monday went more smoothly than any day prior and the workload was light. I worked quickly and easily with our son as he plodded through Language Arts, Science and Math, while my daughter sat quietly next us and playing with Play Dough. Although she remained busy in her play, I could see her peering over from time-to-time and studying what her brother was learning. On one math problem there was a series of duplicate drawings, f...

  TIME TO TRY AGAIN      The setup for our son was simply not working. Finding or doing anything for his schoolwork required the entirety of my participation – our 4-year old would need to find ways of entertaining herself through the day. Over the weekend I made a snap decision, bought matching desks and put them side-by-side; we will be having two children going through kindergarten this year.      This was a new week, starting the same as the last. Each day started with group meetings and a brief hello for each student. Progress was painfully slow and all-consuming but things began to improve. I started to understand what the overall picture looked like for us. Although I was woefully disappointed, hoping for something entirely simplified and 5-year old friendly, I tried to carry on and make sense of the process. Four days in and I decided this was not going to work but, without any other option, it had to work.      Ea...

  HELLO, MY NAME IS ________. MY FAVORITE COLOR IS ________.     The first day of class, the grand unveiling, meeting your fellow students, exploring a new place, seeing the bigger world for the first time...began under the bed our son sleeps in. Momtch and I sat with our son (and daughter too) waiting in anticipation for the first ‘meeting’ to begin. Everyone joined, 10 kids, 15 kids, 20 kids...the noise became deafening. Background noise of all sorts poured through the speakers on our son’s computer. Children became visible on-screen, some sitting, some standing, some eating breakfast, some upside-down with their feet in the air - chaos ran supreme.      The teacher eventually muted everyone, sadly making it impossible for any child to actually say hello to another; it was not really possible anyhow. She began with a song and then announcements and pledges. Afterwards she welcomed all with a smile and gave us all a little information about herse...

 -  IT’S ALL NEW TO US! -     Computers were distributed by our school district 1-week ahead of classes...well, let’s be honest, it was 5-days before classes began. We drove as a family to pick up our son’s device. My first steps into a High School in over 30-years did not bring back any memories. I was greeted by gowned, gloved and masked staff, giving me directions on where to stand while I waiting my turn to receive our son’s device. After a short wait in line, appropriately distanced, I walked to a long table and was greeted by another covered staff member, sitting opposite of me at a large table that was at least 10-feet long. She spoke through her mask, as did I. We exchanged minimal pleasantries and with a long outstretch armed she shoved me the device, down to my side of the 10-foot table. We said goodbye and off I went to return home, with the family, to begin figuring out what comes next.      We had already set up a ‘home office’ f...

- INTRODUCTION -     I am Dad, also know as Datch to Mom and the kids. The nickname was given to me by our son who one day simply called me Datch. I love the nickname and frankly it is one of the first I have ever appreciated. Our children are 4 & 5.5 years old now. Our oldest, a boy, is formally beginning his education into public school, kindergarten. He has had about 2.5 yrs of daycare and 3 months of Montessori schooling; he and his sister were pulled out of the Montessori classes as the pandemic unfolded.      I have been a stay-at-home (SAHD) for over 6-years now. Anyone who says that is the easy life is oblivious to harsher reality. It is a labor of love and one that was supposed to be short-term. I left a senior position at a biotechnology company to stay home with our first-born and then carried on duty for the second – she came shortly after. Poor neighborhood daycare choices pushed my duty further and further out in time until one day we...

 A COVID KINDERGARTEN - FOREWORD -      As of this writing, I/we are on our first full-week of online kindergarten classes. The reason for classes being online (only) is due to a viral pandemic, COVID-19. To-date, over 175,000 (United States) deaths have been attributed to the virus. The yearly death toll is over 250,000 deaths above where we were at this time last year. We have spent the past 6-months in relative isolation, keeping at home as much as possible, limiting exposure to strangers and family and traveling out for supplies only as-needed. We are all practicing "Social Distancing" and wearing face masks when in public.      Our nation is experiencing civil unrest not seen in over 50-years. We are about to enter a presidential election, creating issues over the ability of people to show up at the polls (due to the pandemic), mail in ballots disputes, interruptions in our mail services and polarized candidates who are running on "Fighting for th...