Online Learning vs. In-Person Parenting

 #Lingo2020 #ZoomLives #OnlineLearning #InPersonParenting

Our soon-to-be-8-but-going-on-18-with-all-that-sass daughter saunters down the stairs this morning...

Me: Hey Manya, good morning, you slept in today. Well what do you want for breakfast and then you can get on with your work day.

Her: Mom, At this point I only have my video on. Audio is not connected. Can you repeat that later when the network is better?

....

Well I never! This is a new format of disobedience in this house. And I am yet to figure out a good comeback - after all learning might be online but parenting is still in-person!

I am thinking more on the line of when I am called for, I should just say, "You are in the waiting room. The host will let you in when it is convenient."

Parenting in Quarantine: Physical Distancing and Online Connectivity

#CovidStories

So there are enough jokes about moms in particular and parents in general being driven up the wall by specifically two questions - “What should I do?” and “What can I eat”.

You know what’s offering respite - online real-time classes. Just imagine a bunch of elementary kids in a Zoom conference call. I am passively witnessing one and it is a stress buster. I pity the teacher though.

Prelude:

M: Mom am I looking okay in the video

Me: who cares manya - nobody is interested

M: I am interested in how I look - let me check and test properly!!

First 10 minutes:

“Who’s there”

“Hello, me”

“Hello, can you hear me”

“Hello, don’t talk together”

Next 10 minutes:

Apparently, they have to sign attendance...

“Can you see the pen icon”

“What is an icon”

“Near the mute”

“No don’t mute”

“Who me”

“No, you”

“Can I use highlighter instead”

“This is a tough job”

We are on the 31st minute and I think they are becoming pros at it. Well atleast till the next time. And I get 60 minutes of free me time.

Btw, the little monster gets on a Skype call with her piano teacher next. Call me a sadist but watching this tiny 7 year old negotiate her way around all this technology and then getting so exasperated with ensuring the device is charged, on time connectivity etc - as she goes around finding her quiet place for her “very important conference call”, making sure the door is shut tight and what not - is just so amusing. #FirstWorldProblems