Alone Together

We’re All in This Loneliness Together:

There’s much less FOMO when you know everyone else is also trapped at home. You are reasonably certain that they aren’t having fabulous parties that you weren’t invited to.

But social anxiety is probably not entirely extinguished by the inability to socialize.

Pandemic PE

Remote Learning Gym Class:

Is It Working Out?

We are fine. We have relatively little to complain about, given what is happening in the world lately. 

But this is not to say that the situation is optimal.

Hope all is well with you and yours!

Exercise During Remote Learning

Restorative Exercise Breaks Between Stimulating Remote Learning Classes:

It has been said that because of recent world events: in the war between the screens and the not-screens, the screens have definitely triumphed.

Our sons have never been convinced of the goodness of exercise or the merits of outdoor activities. 

And the harder I am selling something, the harder the pass. 

I would like to say these things are a recent development, but, no they’re not. 

My ability to form memories was severely compromised by extreme sleep deprivation for many years during their early childhood....but I can clearly recall our first son prone on the floor wailing, “I HATE OUTSIDE!” when he was a toddler trying to avoid a trip to the playground.

So this stay-home-all-day-with-your-WIFI  hasn’t exactly been the kids’ worst nightmare come true. 

Though after a month, there have been suggestions that they might actually miss going to school.  

Exercise, probably not so much.

Stealth Pajamas

National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day Was Today.

And Every Day.

Both kids’ schools have some sort of officially stated rule about student dress, or lack thereof, during remote learning.

Pajamas are, of course, officially forbidden.

But what if you were regularly wearing the clothes you sleep in to bricks-and-mortar school before the pandemic?

The bathrobe visible in this drawing might be giving it away. 

But if they can only see him from the chest up on Zoom, it could just be an extra cool hoodie.

Remote Learning

Remote Learning May Not Be As Stimulating as Non Remote Learning:

Spending 24 hours a day with my kids is delightful...maybe. I’m sure I will reflect fondly back on this period of time in my old age after they have moved far away. (ok, in my older, old age)

But the remote learning situation is really a bit of a challenge for us for many reasons.

Perhaps the least of the challenges is the physical environment...but it’s still a problem nonetheless.

In the past, we always wanted to avoid having the kids on their screens while alone in their rooms, so their desks and gaming have been out in the communal space.  This doesn’t work so well for virtual school, so they both set themselves up in makeshift situations in their bedrooms.

In all fairness, what you see in this drawing is no longer the arrangement for this particular student. He is now actually sitting on a chair rather than crumpled in the corner.

It’s a very uncomfortable chair in an uncomfortable location, but at least he is no longer stuffed between a stairway and a dresser.

I don’t observe any additional evidence of physical vigor, however.