As we approach my soon-to-be middle schooler’s fifth grade celebration tomorrow, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate all the kids who started elementary school virtually, and the parents who supported them.
To my fifth grade graduate,
It feels like your first day of school was just months ago and at the same time it feels like a lifetime ago.
Everything started normally, but your Kindergarten year, 2020, ended anything but normally. It was that year, three months before summer break when COVID sent everyone home for virtual learning.
Kindergarten is such an important year – the year you learn expectations and how to succeed in a classroom, and you had to end it from home with virtual learning. You made it through kindergarten fairly unscathed, had a summer of (isolated) fun and then… virtual first grade came along.
Every single day was a challenge. Our once spare bedroom was repurposed and redecorated as a classroom space. You were learning the basics, how to read and write. I would listen as you repeated the syllables the teacher said on the screen while “chopping” your arm to sound it out and then swiping your hand to blend it.
Between my meetings – since I was now working remotely at a desk adjacent from you – I would remind you when it was time for your next class and help you log in. I would try to answer your questions and keep you on track for your assignments.
During your breaks from scheduled Zoom calls, I would get you set up with videos or other work so I could devote some time to my ever-growing to do list. I would finally get into a task only to be distracted by the screaming Spanish-speaking puppet (from hell). You loved it, oh how you laughed and laughed. Across the room, I took deep breaths, found my headphones and continued with my tasks.
And then you would request a snack or you needed a break because you were tired and then you needed help sounding out a word. Let’s just say, patience was not my strong suit during this time (like it ever is). And it became so very clear that my college major change from elementary education to journalism had been the right move. But it wasn’t helping me in the moment.
Every day we juggled scheduled Zoom calls, work packets and other assignments. And I would find whatever time I could to complete my work assignments and return emails.
On an especially hard day I overheard your teacher mention you hadn’t logged into the supplemental reading website. Now mind you, there was no specific assignment for this website, it was just another tool. A tool that – while I understood the benefit – I did not have one extra second of time for.
I walked out of the office, into your bedroom and sobbed. I was failing. I was failing my boss. I was failing my co-workers. I was failing you. (parents with recent fifth grade graduates, i know you can relate!)
And that’s not even taking into account that two days a week I was also juggling caring for your twin 18-month-old sisters. Thank goodness our nanny continued to come three days a week throughout the pandemic.
It was all too much. But you know that, your “fondest” memory of that time was me getting so frustrated one day with how slow the computer was moving I threatened to throw it out the window. Not my proudest moment. But definitely your strongest memory – of course.
Thankfully my work started a new policy allowing for 5 “COVID” days that we could take for things related to the pandemic – they could be sick days for yourself, to help with sick family members or help our kids with virtual school. Those days were such a blessing and helped me make the best of an impossible situation. And in the end, we survived it, and you went back to in-person school to finish out your 1st grade year.
The next few years would fly by – but not without some challenges. Despite the challenges, we made it to fifth grade! And here we are, on the eve of your celebration ceremony, the end of elementary school.
You have overcome so much. You continue to put in the work and make progress. You are positive, determined and such a joy. I know middle school will have a new set of challenge, but there’s no question that you’ll find your place, develop your strengths and make new friends and incredible memories.
To the teachers…even the one who unknowingly made me cry…thank you. You showed up every day with an impossible task, to educate hundreds of children through a computer screen. But you did the best considering the circumstances and we made it through thanks to you leading the way.
To all the fifth grade grads who had anything but a normal start to your elementary school years. Congratulations! You did it. We are so proud of you.
And to the moms, dads, grandparents, nannies or other support person who helped navigate a scary and impossible time. Well done.
Whether you’ll be remembered for your incredible teaching skills during that time or for wanting to throw the computer out the window, it matters not.
You did it. Congratulations to you!
