Comments on: Adventures in homeschooling

By: Brenda

Brenda — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 12:40:41 +0000

In reply to Dave.

Dave, while I agree 100% about the difficulties vast numbers of families are / will face, including massive inequality through to societal breakdowns, you didn’t mention the massive uptick in domestic violence combined with inability to access external support many families will also encounter. Or the uptick in gun sales. Or…
The problems are almost too many to list. However, you are on the wrong blog.
1) it’s not Laura’s job to solve those problems. The US government needs to step up and do something about that (speaking as a citizen of another country watching the train wreck in the US in disbelief and horror – not the pandemic but your government responses)
2) Laura’s audience IS that minority of mothers who, as mostly professional career women, do have these options and want to make the best of it, while keeping hold of their career. It’s what they come here to read about.
3) you might as well complain a gourmet recipe website shouldn’t publish a recipe for truffled lobster because they didn’t deal with feeding the homeless.

‘What about’ is not useful in public discourse. If you want to post asking Laura’s readers to contact their representative about these issues, donate to a charity or almost anything constructive you might actually achieve more than venting your spleen.
As a long term reader, I’m attached to Laura and she doesn’t deserve attacks.
I hope any response you post will include the constructive action you personally have taken to address the issues you mentioned. Personally, and owning my white, educated and wealthy privilege, I have undertaken to keep a young family in which all parents are health workers supplied with whatever items they might have difficulty getting, because of the strain they already face in the frontline of a pandemic, while parenting young children and unable to rely on their usual support of grandparents due to the risks. They do not need to be running around looking for toilet paper. Life will be tough enough. The concept was called ‘adopt a health worker’ in my area.

By: Iphone Xs Max Clear Case

Iphone Xs Max Clear Case — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 21:04:41 +0000

Thank you for sharing such a blog!
Best regards,
Harrell Hessellund

By: LMD

LMD — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 18:12:48 +0000

In reply to Laura Vanderkam. Yes!! Thank you!

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 23:06:21 +0000

In reply to LMD.

@LMD – few places. I talked about Catherine’s schedule here: https://lauravanderkam.com/2019/10/tranquility-by-tuesday-time-blocking-back-up-slots-and-big-questions/

And I wrote about working and homeschooling here: https://www.fastcompany.com/3055528/how-these-parents-work-and-homeschool-too

By: LMD

LMD — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 22:17:31 +0000

Laura – I seem to remember someone (blog? one of your books?) talking about working AND homeschooling? Do you remember where this was — it would be helpful as I’m trying to work out how to work AND take care of/school my kids. Thanks!

By: Suzanne D'Cruz

Suzanne D'Cruz — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 20:00:49 +0000

More good tips Laura x
https://catholicallyear.com/blog/so-youre-a-homeschooler-now/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=so-youre-a-homeschooler-now

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 16:31:47 +0000

It is wonderful that you and a MINORITY of other working parents are privileged enough to have the flexibility and resources to home school your children. But what about the vast majority of the shift workers, middle class and working poor who do not? The parents who DO rely on the schools to provide structure, nutrition and yes, serve as a safe daycare so they can work? The single parents or patents without family? The parents who both work hourly jobs and are just getting by? The parents that have already just barely “optimized” their schedules so they can survive? There are many people just barely making their schedules work and “children going to school” is considered critical support. How about trying to put yourself in the shoes of a family with 2 working parents who cannot afford daycare, do shift work, have hour or multiple hour long drives to work or already are working multiple jobs? I hate to break it to you, but the vast majority of people DO NOT have the resources to suddenly have their children at home let alone expected to be home schooled. Sadly this means many students, who already are disadvantaged will be suffering more and falling behind.
Maybe it would be more constructive and beneficial to blog about the inequities this will reinforce and PROVIDE real world solutions rather than about how a group of privileged 1% parents can “find time” to now add home schooling to their day? Or better, you can use you platform to reveal how our social and economic structure here in the U.S. is again failing the growing number of people who are not in the proverbial 1%.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 12:20:38 +0000

I have only done one day of homeschooling so far and I hated it. The website the kids use for school kept crashing. It was super boring. Also, I struggled to explain elementary school subjects, which is depressing. I am an M.D. My 6-year-old told me he is pretty sure his teacher is smarter than I am.

By: Barb

Barb — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 02:56:17 +0000

In reply to Laura Vanderkam. One kid per leg! Or, one leg per kid?

By: Joanne Adams

Joanne Adams — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 01:28:48 +0000

That is one cute baby!