First Day of School

 The day finally arrived - the first day of school after 6 months away.  It was bitter-sweet.  I think I would have been really happy about it if it had been real school.  Since it was just online, it just felt like a waste of family time, but not really an educational experience.  Just more screen time - something I so despise.  Today was just lectures on how to handle the assignments and online discussions and some get-to-know you activities.  Hopefully in the coming days, the teachers will actually be able to teach something.  I'm trying to remain hopeful. 

I had to get a picture of Kelly too. :)  Didn't want him to feel left out. 

Christian declared it "The most boring first day ever."  The other two had a few more positive things to say, especially about the teachers.  Benjamin knows nearly everyone in every class since they are the same kids that have been in the academically accelerated track since elementary school.  I'm happy that he has friends he can contact and with whom he can work. Bella immediately set to work doing all the assignments after each class and got everything done, even things that aren't due yet.  Benjamin procrastinated and did just a few things here and there until he saw that all the other kids in his class were doing theirs already. We had a talk about how high-achievers behave and the importance of managing your time and getting things done in advance,etc.  He then reluctantly did a few more assignments.  I'm so glad for positive peer pressure in his life.  I think it's the only thing that will motivate him.

 I just wish we had a clear idea of when this online madness will end.  When will we return to normal?  When there are zero cases?  When there is a vaccine?  There will never be zero cases and there will never come a time when there will be 100% compliance with a vaccine, so what is our end goal?  No one knows.  We just keep sitting at home on our screens until someone else makes the decision for us. 

Alas, after the day's online meetings were over, I got everyone out of the house and to the park.  It had rained all morning so things were very soggy, but I couldn't stay inside another minute.  Peter loved the sand and the ducks.  The other two loved the spinning devices best.  Christian and I raced each other around on the ring for a long time.  We had a lot of fun despite the flooding in certain areas.  It really feels like fall has arrived and nothing is better than fall in Michigan!