As Autumn Falls Upon Us...

 

Hi!

Well, with the turn of the page, summer begins to fade in the rearview, allowing Autumn to fall upon us.

School, for most, is only a couple of sleeps away. 

My heart goes out to parents, teachers, and all the support staff. This is going to be a challenging year. Navigating in uncharted waters without knowing what kind of storms are on the horizon. 

No matter if you have chosen to home school, do virtual learning with others doing the teaching, or are physically sending them to the brick and mortar, the usual amount of back-to-school stress, which is more than enough, can't help but be amplified.

Let's do ourselves a favour and decide here and now to cut each other a whack of slack as the maneuvering of this maze, no matter which one, begins.

Let's cut the parents some slack. Regardless of the choices made, doubt is inevitable. With zero chance of perfection, how can it not?

Let's cut the teachers some slack. They've never done this before either. They will, as always, do their best to keep kids safe, but the weight of this extra responsibility is huge. There is zero chance of perfection here too.

Let's cut the support staff some slack. The bus drivers, the maintenance people, the TA's, their job descriptions are changing too. Again, zero chance of perfection.

The life skill of rolling with whatever life throws is being tested in a big way. It's going to be tough, that's a given. It's going to be challenging, also a given. It's going to be hard, but not impossible.

Let's decide to retire side-eye and just be supportive. Unconditionally supportive in whatever way we can.

If you are able, maybe donate some hand sanitizer for the backpacks of some littles. If you are able, maybe donate some sanitizing wipes to classrooms. If you are able, maybe be the place that stress can go to vent. 

Let's just do ourselves a giant solid and make a conscious effort to be kind to each other. Period.

As we wade into the last long weekend of the summer, on the threshold of the school year, let's be smart. No matter how sick we are of hearing about this virus, how sick we are of worrying about it, how exhausted we all are of the whole damn COVID thing, COVID doesn't care.

Let's keep doing the things that help keep this evil game of Russian roulette at bay. Let's wear the masks without complaining, let's keep our gatherings small and outside, let's wash our hands and wipe things down like we're cleaning up after a herd of hyper toddlers who just ate handfuls of chocolate ice cream and melted gummy bears. Let's take care of each other.

***********************************************************************

May learning be a joy, no matter where or how it happens.

May the dust of upheaval settle before the year is at its end.

May you find a way to muddle through that doesn't make you feel crazy.

May you find a way to navigate this unknown, even if, right now the horizon looks hazy.

May we lift each other over the puddles, share the burden of the stress.

May we remember to be flexible, attentive, and kind, we are, in the end, all just doing our very best.

***********************************************************************

www.margyreidbooks.com