I understand—our kids aren't on vacation. Yet, they're still figuring that out. My teenage son is debating what 'should' be done, and boredom isn't an issue. Yesterday, my daughter Lotte created her own schedule with essential school tasks for home learning. Impressive, sure, but as a parent of two, I crave a bit more flexibility amid COVID-19 homeschooling. It's so quintessentially Dutch to power through, even from home.
The world has flipped upside down, yet we're fixated on metrics and performance. Don't misunderstand—I believe in guiding our children. But let's ease into this lockdown reality caused by COVID-19, rather than immediately structuring everything around home learning as the top priority.
Social media floods me with tips, timetables, and routine charts, sparking near panic. It feels like a competition to showcase perfect setups, with kids glued to desks or kitchen tables from dawn, laptops open and ready to study.
I wonder: how? In our home, the kids sleep in a little, then ease into tasks. My son Luc struggles with focus and needs breathing room between sessions. At school, he'd chat with friends or play cards during breaks. Expecting two straight hours of study here is unrealistic.
Pauses are essential, especially now. My mind races with COVID-19 news—imagine our children's. They may feel anxiety in this chaos, even if subtle. As an experienced parent, I know we shouldn't underestimate their inner worlds. Give them space to adjust.
Idleness isn't the answer, particularly for Luc in his final school year—outcomes remain uncertain. We avoid strict regimes: a bit of learning, family chats, shared lunches, dog walks sparking great talks, games, or movies.
As weeks pass, we'll refine our routines (Lotte's already leading there). For now, we're gently settling into life as a family of four at home.
