FALLING OUT OF ROUTINE
I have my six-year-old daughter half the time. The last 18 months were a sort of weird multi-generational co-working space where I’d work at my computer, while she did learning apps on her tablet. I was able to keep to a homeschool routine most of the time. Waking up earlyish. Doing our work or learning, getting exercise. Playing games.
That was until January this year when I got COVID, and it took about 3 months for me to properly get off the couch. We lost any sense of routine and it was hard to crawl back to that. So our routine descended into pyjamas all day and binging Muppet Babies as “home school” because it taught… I don’t know… movie references? Emotional growth? It was a stretch.
CREATING ROUTINE
So starting school in August was a rude awakening. The whole pandemic I’ve had her coming to my bedroom to wake me up, but now I’m the earlier riser. I get her up at 6am and she fights it like a teenager.
We suddenly didn’t have as much freedom to take her time, pick her outfit, etc. I realize I’m giving orders and it’s not fun for either of us.
Getting dressed became a whole hassle because she’d gotten used to throwing on a summer dress, or an Elsa costume - depending on the mood. As we’ve gone through her wardrobe I realise that we’ve both grown out of a lot of clothes this year. Her is height-based, mine is… non-height-based.
I realised she needed all the basics from preschool rebought. Backpacks, lunchboxes, every type of clothing. And school had already started so nearly everything was sold out. But we got there in the end.
THE DROP-OFF
Dropping her off at school is also an ordeal. They have a new COVID process that LAUSD is trying their best to work out. It means weekly COVID tests, masks obviously, and a daily symptom survey that generates a QR code to be let in.
It’s all very comforting that this is in place, but when you’re standing outside trying to log in on your phone with spotty reception, knowing that the no parking sign wants you moved in two minutes, while a 6-year-old is trying to ask you if a dragon is a lion who walked through fire. It’s a bit overwhelming.
Ultimately, on the successful days when we are fed, dressed, masked, and on time - she goes through the gate - and into a world, I can’t see. I drop her off at a chain-linked fence to a masked stranger, after a year where it was mostly just me and her together at home. I was so focused on the COVID stuff, I didn’t realise that starting school is a milestone for us both.
There’s a quote by Elizabeth Stone that deciding to be a parent is to decide to “forever have your heart go walking around outside your body.” And as I saw my masked offspring walk off into the school grounds without me, it never felt more true.
LABOR DAY
After 3 weeks, we finally have the routine down, but getting out of bed at 6 is still a problem. Then our routine is interrupted by Labor day’s 5 day weekend. I think we’re going to get away with a sleep-in - but of course, that Friday off becomes the first day she springs out of bed at 6am.