06/03/2020
Valerie Williams
Grace in a Time of Chaos
Juggling Work, School and Parenting May be Daunting but Not Insurmountable
By Valerie C. Williams
When schools first closed their doors, we were all faced with challenges and needed to adapt quickly. State and local education leaders needed to provide policies, procedures, and resources for distance learning. School personnel had to create paper or online lessons, and parents became responsible for ensuring the education of their school-age children continued-- particularly the youngest ones.
I understand your feelings. I occupy both the space of a professional in the field and the parent of a 3rd grader who happens to have Down syndrome, and receives general and special education at our local public school.
Initially, the road was rocky. For some, it still is. After all, who dreamt of teleworking, while attempting to be an educator, occupational therapist and speech-language pathologist simultaneously?
I’m thankful to have a job I can do from home, but this was not in the plan. Additionally, a lot of well-meaning organizations have and continue to push out resources. It quickly became too much. Too much to read, absorb, and implement, literally overnight. Over time our household picked up a few nuggets that are working, mostly through trial and error. Nothing new or ground-breaking, but worth sharing. Here’s what brought more order to our attempts to balance work and school:
- Ease into the day – A cup of coffee, tea, or a few minutes of solitude in the morning makes a difference. Take a moment for yourself before the day begins.
- Set a schedule – Even if you aren’t able to stick to it 100% of the time, it is helpful to you and your child to know what time they can expect to do reading, math, art, etc. My son’s classes are all online and thankfully asynchronous, so we’re not tied to the computer at specific times.
- Rely on the experts – If you’re having problems with schoolwork or carrying out any of the instructions from educators/therapists, by all means, ask for help. School personnel are trained in their craft and are eager to provide assistance.
- Extend grace – to yourself, your child, and the school system. You aren’t a trained educator or therapist, your child didn’t expect to finish the school year at home without their teachers and classmates, and the schools had no time to plan.
Despite everyone’s best efforts, things will not be perfect; but they will improve, and we can do this together.
Valerie C. Williams is the Senior Director of Government Relations & External Affairs for the
National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)
