Back to School - Pivoting, Grace, and Hope for the Future

It's no mystery to anyone the stress surrounding back to school this year. The kids, the parents, the teachers, the administrators - we are all feeling it. Whether facilitating distance learning, a social-distanced classroom, or combinations of both - it's all new, uncharted, and with challenges. Vice Principal Lindsey Howe talks with us about what it looks like at her schools. What have the challenges been? How can parents team with schools for a successful year? What are ways we can help our kids adapt?

Parenting, Education, HealthNancy MettlerAugust 25, 2020back to school, education, school, parenting, educators, pivoting, pivot, grace, hope, pandemic, safety, elementaryComment

Being Present, Building Community, and Refocusing in 2020

It's been one heck of a year! But it's not over yet. We still have a chance to refocus. A chance to pivot and make some beauty out of this mess.

In this episode, Nancy Elizabeth discusses how her family keeps their energy and mindset focused each year. How with some intention and gentle reminders they choose to work on a shared theme to help bring joy and happiness into their family.

The practice of making a family theme as a greater part of cultivating a family culture has been a simple and fun way to work together. With the unprecedented challenges of 2020 - Nancy has decided to make a decision.

Back to School - Or Not?

It's not easy. Concerns about health and wellbeing. Concerns about academic rigor. Concerns about social and mental health. Concerns about getting people back to work and surviving financially.

There is a lot for both families and educators to consider about the transition back to school this year. Much as with everything else about this time - it looks different all over the country.

Duality exists with both wanting to stay safe and wanting to get back to school. And that's okay.

I hope that with this you can feel heard. That you can accept your decision or make progress in coming to one. That we can see and accept the decisions of our neighbors and friends with understanding.