I’ve been away from my school for an entire week, but I haven’t seen my kids for 2 weeks. It has been twenty thousand one hundred sixty minutes since I last laid eyes on my school kids. It seems a bit strange that 1 week of an unplanned school closing has left me dismal. Yes, I am totally engulfed in the pandemic that is sweeping the nation, but I am also trapped in a web of concern for my kids. I am like a melancholic puppy who can’t find her fuzzy toy. I’ve even resulted to asking Alexa to play the favorite songs of my kindergartners. I am totally fixated on all the things my kids are missing. I am wondering how they are impacted by the closing, if their families are well. I am concerned about the fractured school year and how my kids will return to learning as “usual” when the pandemic has subsided. I am wondering what questions the kids may have. I know that there are many. I received an email from one of my kids, she typed, “I miss you, Dr. Walker-Hood.” The email made my day! My district, like others, has implemented a plan to stay in touch with our kids and to ensure that their minds are being stimulated. My team and I are communicating with families via a web-based program, telephone calls, and emails. It’s ironic, when school was in session, there was always someone longing to be home, sometimes a kid and sometimes an adult. Now that we are restricted to stay at home, we are longing to be at school. The kids miss their teachers and the teachers miss their kids!
As always, there’s a lesson to be learned in everything that happens. It’s up to the individual to learn the lesson. Yes, this pandemic is unprecedented; it’s sweeping the nation like a wildfire but there is a lesson to be learned! The lesson, in its simplest form is to learn to appreciate people. Appreciate your family, friends, neighbors, those you work with, those you see at stores, and those whose names you don’t know. Stop thinking you are better than others. Stop thinking you know everything. Stop judging people. Stop complaining. We ALL are Masterpieces, unique individuals with special gifts and talents! This pandemic doesn’t discriminate. Let us show compassion, empathy, patience, and appreciation…TODAY, TOMORROW, and ALWAYS!
I hope that all is well with my kids and their families. I hope my team and their families are well, safe, and secure. Soon, I hope to see them ALL! I know this devastating pandemic is only a moment in time. I hope we understand and digest its lesson. I miss my Masterpieces!
