Pandemic Motherhood Diary, Entry 26: First School Open House

Last month, my husband and I attended the school meeting many parents dread: open house. It was our toddler’s first. After reviewing our children’s expectations, all the parents lined up to receive feedback about their child’s behavior and progress. After overhearing the teacher’s reports on each kid’s daily behavior, we were nervous. Turns out we didn’t need to be. His teacher enthusiastically told us she loved how caring and helpful our son was. More importantly, she loved his confidence when he participated in the lessons, showcasing how much he understood. Our son was doing well. We were so happy to know that his time at home with us didn’t hinder him. It prepared him. 

The pandemic affected parents in a number of ways. Studies have shown that the pandemic left a lasting effect on students from grade levels K-12. Remote learning didn’t fare well for many, and as a result, children’s progress suffered. Other research assessed how the pandemic negatively impacted early childhood development as well, particularly for children born in the last three years. Educators and childcare workers have had to consider children’s “COVID-19 pandemic experience.” How has it affected their academic performance, their mental health, and social development? 

One of my acquaintances, Sindara Lopez, has a similar scenario to mine. She also has two small boys, who are just months apart in age from my two boys. Her oldest isn’t in school yet, but he does play t-ball and interacts with other children now. This was not always the case, considering the mandatory isolation at the beginning of the pandemic. “There weren’t other kids around, but he was surrounded by adults,” she told me.

She also infused learning from popular kids’ shows like Blippi, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Ryan’s World with tablets and conversations with their family. Although her youngest has a delayed speech, which she credits to his love for his pacifier, he is very active and loves music. 

Our oldest was just three months old when the pandemic shut the country down.

The childhood experience during the pandemic has seen many twists and measurements. From e-learning, remote schooling, community in place or lack thereof, their family structure, and their overall individual needs, kids had a challenging couple of years. Research showed that toddlers learn better from peer play time and in-person experiences. The pandemic increased screen time for children, which is helpful in moderation but not ideal. 

Our son used tablets and other forms of screen time, but we also used age-appropriate workbooks and hands-on learning experiences like scavenger hunts with sight words. In the end, this worked out in our favor. We were given a heads-up about a mandatory test that the pre-k 3 children would take. We waited patiently to receive his results. Is our son on track? Is he keeping up with the other kids? We asked ourselves many questions concerning his progress. His results proved that we didn’t need to worry. It was comforting to know that the pandemic wasn’t a hindrance to our son’s educational needs.

Our oldest was just three months old when the pandemic shut the country down. He spent much of the past few years without interaction with other kids. The idea of his social development lagging because of it troubled us. Although we are happy that he is academically doing well, it meant even more to us that he displayed signs of concern for others. His teacher told us that he would ask others if they were okay when something was seemingly wrong. That let us know that his social skills didn’t take a major hit after all. 

As my youngest son turns two, I wonder how his experience will differ from his brother’s.

The pandemic also played a crucial role in our decision to not send our sons to daycare. I remember the conversations my husband and I had about the possibility of sending our three-year-old two years ago. I even looked up childcare centers in the surrounding area, with very low expectations of actually approving one. Shockingly, I actually found one that I liked. I remember the conversation that I had with one of the workers. She was comforting and checked off every box. Still, we couldn’t go through with it. 

As my youngest son turns two, I wonder how his experience will differ from his brother’s. He is getting just as much enrichment at home, maybe more, considering the knowledge we’ve gained. Even though he doesn’t have to attend school for quite some time, I wonder how life will change things for him. I prefer he stays home the same amount of time his brother did, or possibly longer. I’m nearing the end of completing my master’s degree, and my husband is starting school in the spring to receive his principal certification. If we find ourselves considering daycare for our youngest, will we go through with it? 

If I’m being completely transparent, I want to keep him home as long as possible. He deserves the same amount of coddling his brother received. We have had to pivot every step of the way these past few years. Thankfully, we’ve made it work. We are fortunate for how well our son is progressing in school and beyond. It has shown me that we have made the right decision, keeping him bubbled in with us.

Melissa Menny is an author with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. She is a poet and a writer in all aspects. When she is not working, she enjoys painting, music, and spending time with her husband and two sons.

This is the most recent in a series of essays about raising young children in the COVID era. Read entry 25 here.