Good morning! We didn't get much snow, hopefully it will be gone by the afternoon. It's Friday- dd2 finished all her work for the week yesterday, ds3 is working along, and ds2 has his last classes before his Spring Break starts. coffee/paper school with ds3 clean house read cut out a new skirt pattern- I am going through my stash of patterns and fabric not sure what else Have a great day!

Wonderful news! Congratulations!

Good morning! After 70 degrees yesterday- it is now freezing rain. Probably this will take out the daffodils, but what can you do? It is an inside day- we will just try to make it through. Dh has already had calls with Asia this morning, it is going to be a long day. coffee/paper school with kids laundry- kids will do their own ds2 finished his midterm last night- I think he is done (his Spring Break is next week) try to get started on another project- lost a little of my momentum dinner- probably soup or pasta Have a great day!

My awesome dmil figured out FaceTime. So that was fun.

I missed all the festivities and trips planned for my 50th. My dd will probably miss all the fun planned for her 18th at the end of April. I hadn't planned anything for my birthday since I turned 40, so this was really disappointing. And for dd2, missing out on the things planned for her 18th is just another thing lost this spring, sports, prom, graduation, etc.

Good morning! Today is going to be beautiful, but we are supposed to have snow tomorrow. Dh left for an early bike ride-he's trying to find some structure here, instead of working from the moment he gets up. More school for the kids. coffee/paper make egg strata for dinner read a little try to figure out a new project school with ds3 spend some time outside clean a little dinner later Have a great day!

Happy birthday, May! More of the same today. dh is missing his office and the structure it brings. Now it is wake up- start work, work all day, Oh dear is it 7 pm already. The office helps him not work every hour of the day. And they cancelled the high school graduations here... the kids are grieving and if one more person says to suck it up...I am already not returning phone calls to certain tone-deaf individuals. coffee/paper kids up and working work in sewing room clean bathrooms laundry get kids to work out/go outside things in garden figure out dinner read- whatever else needs doing Have a great day!

Good morning! Today is the first day of online "school" for dd2. So far, I am underwhelmed. The printer has problems and I need to figure it out later. coffee/paper everyone up and working check bank and bills figure out printer problems work in sewing room laundry- sheets and towels- started help with school school with ds3 plan some meals check in with older kids dinner? Have a great day!

Good morning! The house should be quieter on the weekends- dh doesn't ususally have calls. More of the same coffee/paper clean a little laundry read when it warms up- out in the garden not sure what else Have a great day!

Paying rent for my young adults- one who won't get a stimulus check because she was still in college on scholarship last year and is currently taking out loans for law school. The other who lost his job at a high end restaurant. He is grateful but still upset that he has lost his ability to be financially independent. Also we are forging ahead with a house project.

I think many colleges were moving away from giving credit for AP exams before this. The inequality between districts was fairly invisible so it was easier to ignore. Now district/school inequality is so visible- I just can't imagine an argument that everyone had equal access or opportunity for a decent score this year. So I do think colleges will have to look at this.

It is my understanding that the AP test has been shortened to only cover the material that you should have learned through March. I think the AP tests for the year are not going to have much meaning- and definitely some colleges will not accept them. The disruption to education is very much not equal and, as always, poor kids and struggling districts are falling behind.

Good morning! It is grey and cold- with rain expected this afternoon. Dmil needs a few things (some more DVDs to watch- she doesn't like to watch things on the computer- and more fruit and snack things). She is in an independent living place that locked down March 11- so dd2 and ds3 are going to drop things off and wave from the sidewalk, so she can see them. The residents aren't allowed to leave their rooms- so it is getting lonely for most of them. Also it is an errand for the kids- who want to feel useful. coffee/paper chores laundry shirt#2- expand skill set- I redrafted the neckline and facings last night- and I am going to shorten the sleeves kids out for errands and drop off for dmil (pharmacy pick up for ds3- inhaler, grocery store for dmil, drop off- probably will sneak in a run as well) read a little figure out dinner watch a movie tonight Have a great day!

Talked to my mother- deep bone-in sigh. I can't even ... My shirt turned out lovely and dd2 gave it a thumbs up (she was actually surprised how cute it was). I am feeling more confident- so on to the more expensive fabric tomorrow. The kids are all working and then they will do their workouts. Mind-body-spirit. I am like a life-coach here.

No and I wouldn't even if asked. Temporary school at home is not homeschooling. If a parent can't get their kid to do the very minimal work that most schools are sending home- that is a parenting problem, not a school problem. They can't change their curriculum or do something different or unschool for a while or any of the things usually recommended. It's rough and I am sorry for the situation but I am not going to give advice to people who have questioned my choices and allowed their kids to make fun of mine for the past 19 years. Sigh. My mother called today. Not feeling especially charitable.

Good morning! Everyone home today. All. Day. Long. coffee/paper hide in sewing room- hard when there are no walls- just a space in the basement- try a different blouse top a little bit of weeding, a little bit of checking the plants keep the house clean- a challenge with everyone here all the time keep the kids moving on school- giving extra as a way of distraction read- 2 library books left, about 6 books lying around I haven't read yet- but mostly re-reading favorites figure out dinner Have a great day!

Well, I had a pattern fail this morning, so that was too bad. Good news is that I didn't waste any expensive fabric to discover it. Still not entirely sure why it was such a disaster- but I have a few ideas. I need a little food and a book for a while. Tomorrow, I am going to try again.

Good morning! More of the same. Dh working from home, ds2 working online, the other kids, on the most boring spring break ever. dd2 will probably be glad for homework now. coffee/paper keep the house picked up and clean check garden, give some things water probably out for groceries- we are expecting a shelter in place order in the next few days dd2 has a call with a coach about next year- she has been chatting with teammates- so that is a bright spot (ordered gear yesteray) not sure what else is going on- we all seem to be settling into a routine that works- even as it is so so lacking. figure out dinner Have a great day!

That is excellent, Selkie! And way to go, Scout! Really great news about your blood sugar level! The sun is out today which nice. dd2 and ds3 are doing a challenge run every day- so I am glad for good weather for them. ds2 is trying to get a routine in place for his online classes and life. Even though he was homeschooled and can set up a routine at home- for the past two years, home has been vacation- so the mental readjustment is significant. That was why dd1 elected to stay in her apartment at school. She is pretty bored- but has taught herself to knit socks and she does yoga outside. For ds1- his phone died (because those are the things that happen to ds1- jobs disappear, phones break, etc) but apparently he and his gf and roommates have started a garden. So that is good. today: coffee/paper pay bills/$ to kids (done) laundry- sheets and towels clean bathrooms read a little sewing room things figure out food not sure what else- Spring break for ds3 and dd2- so no school work there Have a great day!

Regarding the recuiting- every kid is in the same boat. Dd2 did her whole recruiting season with a serious injury and mostly relied on her times from the previous year. That is what most of her jr friends are doing right now. While it is not ideal, opportunities will come- and they may be excellent. Not that anyone is happy about the situation. Honestly, jrs are in a slightly better place than sophomores who lost their championship meet and thus most of their recruitable times. I know that if dd2 hadn't been injured- she might not have looked at the program she is going to- but we are so glad she did. Dd2's team is doing dryland as a team over Zoom every day- better than nothing- And the coach is putting seniors in charge of random workouts and announcing who is in charge at the end of the session. So at least the seniors are logging in- they still don't want to disappoint their coach.

It's been rough. Dryland is not an adequate substitute for swimming. Plus all motivation has been stripped away as she will not get another championship meet before she goes to college. not to even mention all the senior year things.

The dog is back from the groomer-looking super cute. Not sure what else is going on this afternoon.

Good morning! Spring Break for dd2 and ds3- they might as well do school. coffee/paper get everyone working-checking video conference capabilities dog has grooming appointment ds3 to courts do something outside clean house read a little dd2- has team meeting over Zoom dinner-leftovers, I think Have a great day!

Good morning! I have been up for a while with coffee and a book. Next week is Spring Break for dd2 and ds3. They are pretty bored already- the snow and cold hasn't helped. ds2 starts his online work Tuesday. His classes are so small (9-15) that they are using video conferencing for most of them and they spent last week testing it. Several of his exams moved to oral exams over Skype rather than in class timed writing and for a kid with dysgraphia that is huge. So that's good for him. No idea what today holds- keeping the house clean and the kids' spirits up. And checking the garden after the snow melts.

Good morning! It is cold and the snow is stuck to all the trees and bushes. This would be way prettier if it was November. As it is, I am ready for spring. coffee/paper a small breakfast laundry (started) clean house- enlist some help probably take a nap wear noise cancelling earbuds whenever possible maybe start a puzzle work outside if it gets warmer Have a great day!