What is normal?

This time is a crazy time for everyone.  And it affects all of us differently.  For me it has been crazy to try to school 6 children at home following the recommendations from their teachers at school.  I had a much easier time when I was homeschooling my children a number of years ago.  True I didn't have as many then, but I also was in charge.  I got to choose the curriculum and how much time was spent doing things.  I could change things on a whim if needed, if I felt something else would suit the situation better.

However, I have teachers who love my children, and want what is best for them.  However I am the one on the front lines teaching them all different things.  The other day Cinderella decided she wanted to learn how to make some kind of french strawberry cake.  She spent a lot of time looking at recipes.  She then spent about 4 hours on Monday making this cake.  It was a work of art.

It was also a major learning experience for her.  If I was her homeschool teacher, at this point I could say she has done her school for that day.  However, I am not the teacher, and all of her classes are wrapping up, and getting ready for finals.  In fact I think it was the last week for some of her classes this last week.  I couldn't tell her she had done enough and call it good.  So she still needed to spend a few hours working on the computer.

Now don't get me wrong.  We are doing great.  We have adjusted to this new normal.  I have come up with a routine that we follow to get all of my kids through their school in a day.  Admittedly dishes and laundry don't get done as much as they should.  (Laundry especially.  Right now I have  a room where laundry goes to die.  Missing something?  It's probably in that room.  Can't tell you where, or if it is clean or dirty, but it is most likely in there somewhere.)   I have come to accept that especially with my elementary aged children, my kids might not complete all the assignments from their teachers.  However we try to do what I feel like we will succeed with.

But it brings me to my title. What is normal?  My normal is probably very different from your normal.  And my normal will be changing in these next few weeks as school wraps up, and we move into summer.  And who knows what that will entail.  Will we be able to travel?  Should we come up with activities we can do around the house?  How much can we get out of the house, and away from our cabin fever?  I am sure you all have similar questions you are asking yourselves.  

I wish you all the best as you work to adapt to the new normal in your lives.